Wednesday, June 23, 2010

Oh Mahathir Old Mahathir!

The government should not have any doubts and go ahead with the issuing of the sports betting license to the Berjaya Group, former Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohammad said today.

"If I were the government, I would approve it," he told the media after hosting an education-related event at his Perdana Leadership Foundation office in Putrajaya.

He said the government should not get in the way of those who have no prohibitions against gambling.

"The Chinese always gamble. To them it is not haram (prohibited by religion). Why should we prohibit them? We can't stop them from eating pork because for them it is not haram," he said.

What say you?

20 comments:

  1. gambling is akin to doing business, like no risk no gain.

    In life, there is no such thing as no gamble, finding a good job is like luck..you got the job, your boss likes you, you get promoted and you have extra $$$.

    You make investments e.g. on realty, business and stock markets, are you considered gambling? Yeah, you are taking a risk by chance.

    No one can predict or forecast what is next.

    If he or she can, he or she will become rich overnight.

    Do u agree?

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  2. The majority of the Chinese are against gambling. Mahathir said the Chinese like gambling is wrong and absurd. Let's see if Najib heeds the call of banning sports betting by the vast majority of the Malaysian public irrespective of their racial origins, or takes the advice of Mahathir to legalize sports betting. The choice is entirely his.

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  3. thats dictatorship! Sorry thats the only way he knows!

    "If I were the government, I would approve it,"

    he does not say: if I were the PM - no he says THE GOVERNMENT!!!!!

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  4. Judi and racism!
    If he were to become PM again and make that Ali his deputy....
    then satu Malaysia become Malaysia satu all will run (cabut) lah!

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  5. Some peoples said sports betting should be legalised to recognise the rights of non-muslims. Do these group of peoples consider allowing non muslims to gambler with cards like black jack, jim rammi etc? I guess these group of peoples will say NO, because gambler with cards will not benefit their pocket. They may even say if you want to play cards you have to go to Genting.
    Few years ago a group of man just play cards without gambler but was catch and cut their hair botak.
    During that time why no one push hard to recognise the rights of non-muslim.

    The reason is simple no money no talk.

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  6. Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng has accused Information and Culture Minister Rais Yatim of using Chinese as scapegoats to pursue the government's agenda to legalise sports betting.

    He levelled this charge during a press conference at the Parliament lobby today, responding to Rais' claim that the government must issue the sports betting licence for the rights of non-Muslims to be recognised and respected.

    "When did he become an expert on the Chinese?" asked Lim, (left) adding that he was "shocked" by Rais' unusual statement, challenging him to name the Chinese organisations which actually asked for the legalisation of Sports betting.

    "I don't think that any Chinese organisation ever asked for sports betting, like Umno is claiming.

    "It seems that Umno is more interested in gambling, than the Chinese or other non-Muslims... Not only is he looking (to use them) to cross the bridge (legalise sports betting), he wants to find scapegoats also (as an excuse)," he alleged.

    The Bagan parliamentarian also questioned the government's "perverse logic" that it must legalise sports betting just because underground gambling existed.

    He challenged the government to also legalise sand being exported to Singapore since that illegal activity has been rampant for sometime.

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  7. Mahathir's gymnastic flexibility

    Mahathir's defence of the right of the Chinese to gamble is only the latest demonstration of his willingness to take positions that can be diametrically opposite the ones he took in a long career of gymnastic flexibility.

    He was the first PM to unilaterally, without consultation with coalition partners, declare Malaysia an Islamic state which he did in September 2001.

    Also, on his watch in 1988, a constitutional amendment was passed placing syariah courts on par with the civil jurisdiction.

    That amendment and the later pronouncement left the position that Malaysia is a secular polity gravely weakened, though jurisprudence had already congealed around the position that the constitution, despite a doffing of the hat to Islam as the official religion, favoured secularity.

    People who will say anything are often the victims of diminished self-esteem. Assuredly, that is not the problem with Mahathir.

    Scribes have sought many tropes to explain the man - the most recent being Barry Wain - but in vain.

    In one of the stories of the great Latin American fabulist, Jorge Louis Borges, the hero observes that there is nothing more unnerving than a centreless labyrinth. Mahathir is like that labyrinth.

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  8. This is funny! We have all kinds of gambling and a casino in West-Malaysia, but in Sabah...........

    http://www.malaysia-today.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=32672:sabah-minister-shoots-down-casino-proposal-&catid=19:newscommentaries&Itemid=100131

    Sabah minister shoots down casino proposal

    Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Masidi Manjun has vehemently shot down a proposal to build a casino in Kundasang, citing its potential adverse impact on the population.

    “We should not view it solely on perceived economic benefits. We must also consider its social impact on Sabahans themselves.

    "The economic benefits look rosy but the possible social cost of gambling addiction and its social by-products are equally colossal,” he said.

    He made these comments is response to the call made by Batu Sapi MP Edmund Chong Ket Wah (PBS) in urging Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak to approve a casino licence for the state to help boost its tourism industry. He made the call while debating the 10th Malaysia Plan at the Dewan Rakyat on Tuesday.

    Chong proposed Kundasang as a suitable site for a casino, citing similarity in climate and environment to that of the Genting Highland during the debate.

    Without mincing words, Masidi who is also Karanaan state assemblyman contended that one must not equate Kundasang with Genting, home to the country’s sole casino.

    “I don’t think we can equate Kundasang with Genting. Kundasang has more than just the cool weather to lure tourists. It has Mt Kinabalu (Malaysia’s first World Heritage site) and other eco-attractions like birds watching.

    "Genting would probably be just another highland without the casino but Kundasang will continue to stand tall in the tourism map even in the absence of a casino,” he said.

    Naïve proposal

    Blasting the proposal by Chong as naive he said: "Purely anticipating tourism dollars from having a casino is very simplistic way of looking at the issue.

    "Sabah has so many tourism products that can be developed and are sustainable. All we need to do is attract investors and provide good infrastructure such as good roads and steady electricity supply.

    "We should look beyond our life time to plan and develop the tourism industry in Sabah and avoid a quick-fix strategy which we may regret later.

    "Sabahans should learn to be innovators and creators of our own brand of service products and not merely become senseless imitators of others," he cautioned.

    He also noted that while the Genting casino was built on empty highland, Kundasang, is "overwhelmingly populated by Muslims and the government would need to take into consideration the sensitivity and social norms of the locals."

    Does he really know what he is talking about?????? I say: NO! Where is the improvement in Sabah, the development and the eradication of hard-core poor? Why do we have to lose out with the remark we have to many muslims here? Where are they coming from?

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  9. Yeah so prostitution should be legalised too in order to gain more revenue for the government via income tax from prostitutes, licence to be paid by kedai ayam, chicken corporates.

    Think of it, it is also a profitable idea so as to help the subsidies.

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  10. In a dramatic reversal, the Umno supreme council has decided tonight to reject the legalisation of sports betting, dealing a major blow to Prime Minister Najib Razak.

    The ruling BN led by Najib had earlier approved the legalisation of sports betting with the licence awarded to Ascot Sports owned by tycoon Vincent Tan of conglomerate Berjaya Corporation.

    However, Najib announced at a press conference held immediately after the Umno supreme council meeting at 11.30pm that the gambling licence has been withdrawn.

    He said that the decision by the powerful supreme council - the party's highest decision-making body - was unanimous.

    "The public has been largely against the issuance of the licence, so the government has decided not to issue the licence," said Najib, who is also Umno president and chaired tonight's supreme council meeting.

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  11. Najib, Mahathir, MIC, LDP defeated. What comes next?

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  12. There are many interesting analysis and comments on this blog that warrant your precious time. These are very intelligent and interesting read indeed. You form your own opinion.

    http://suarasabah.wordpress.com/

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  13. Gerakan Membantah make a move to pressure the government to formulate a long term plan to revoke other gambling licences. Are these peoples smart & wise?
    If revoke other gambling licences, then Genting will lose their casino license. If Genting really lose their casino license, do you think Genting theme park can survive? How many peoples will lose their jobs? Will Gerakan Membantah willing to hold responsible for those who lose their jobs?
    For Genting they have their casino licence in Singapore. If they really concentrate fully in Singapore, how many tourist will we lose? What will foreign investors think? What will happen to our share market? Do Gerakan Membantah know how much revenue we will lose?
    Fight for the sick of fighting without thinking.

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  14. In Malaysia, we have various legalised gambling.

    1. Empat Ekor...from 3D to 6D bets
    2. Lotteries and jackpots
    3. Horse racing
    4. One arm bandit (slot machine)
    5. Casino
    6. Stock market & forex
    what else? Maybe I missed one or two.

    So, sports gambling...which horse racing is also sports gambling..

    Yeah, cocking fighting, dog racing, rat racing, fighting fish etc.

    How about Muay Thai boxing gambling.

    The BN government will like to legalised all these if they can! It involves a lot of $$$ from the people's pockets.

    Who got these licences....ah, only the BN connected businessmen, proxies can obtain them and well, we are talking about billions of ringgit into their pockets.

    Another one is the entertainment business...they should legalise prostitution, horny massage parlours, special escort services, PROs...etc...more money will be turning around and probably Malaysia will be the most desired tourist destination.

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  15. Another thing is a-go-go bars, striptease dances, tiger like the Philippines....yea

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  16. We have a lot of munafik imams, religion leaders, politicians in malaysia. They pray everyday and nite, do ceramah but still remain as munafik. We are not worried about muslim denounce their faiths, nor are we worried about people against islam, but we are worried about munafik in Islam. So brothers lets do our own soul searching and back to the right path.

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  17. We and every one of us like to like to live life to the fullest.

    and we got maybe 60 to 70 years of our life for enjoying (if we can) and next...we are DEAD!

    Ashes to ashes...RIP! Wats next?

    Don't talk to me about Ulamas or blablabla. We are only being existing in this planet called Earth.

    There could be other planets in the universe...only God or time knows....If there is a God of the Universe?

    Point is,,you are fucking
    Like the 'Malaysian taxi astronaut' to space...he will be thinking like, what the hack! earth is so small..there is a whole universe out there!

    Point is, you are fucking shallow thinking...the Americans knew it!

    UFOs!!!

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  18. (Share market went to hell on 1986, 1998, 2002, 2008....GENTING CASINO also there, why can't GENTING CASINO helps???...Why a lot Malaysians lose money, even Genting's share dropped like hell!!!!!!Don't say stupid things that Genting Casino boosts share market, lure foreign investors......Investors don't come to Malaysia because of Casino!!!Why thousands investors worldwide go to China and invest there, even China no casino, no 4-D, empat ekor, Sport TOTO, Damacai, etc ....because good chance, environment, good policies and plenty of development in CHINA and NOT BECAUSE OF CASINO and gambling kiosks!!!!Only idiots will think casino, gambling can lure, attract investors and as a major factor in attracting foreign investors!!!!!!!!!!!)

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  19. GENTING HIGHLAND IS A VICE HIGHLAND, AS YOU CAN 
    SEE A NUMBER OF VICE GUYS AND FEMALES, LIKE LOAN
    SHARKS, PROSTITUTES,GANGSTERS.......

    WHEN YOU LOSE MONEY, LOAN SHARKS APPROACH; FOR 
    MALES, IF YOU WALK ALONE, FEMALE/FEMALES WILL 
    APPROACH YOU AND ASK YOU WANT SOME FUN .....
    (BE CAREFUL, MANY ARE WITH SICKNESS, AND YOU WILL GET SEX SICKNESS THAT WILL MAKE YOUR LIFE CRAZY AND TERRIBLE!!!AS THESE ILLEGAL SEX WORKERKS 
    NEVER OR SELDOM SEEK MEDICAL ADVICES AND TREATMENT, THEY ARE "DANGEROUS" TO YOUR LIFE AND TO YOUR FAMILY, TO YOUR WIFE,TOO!!!)


    IT IS A PLACE WITH LOT OF "VICE GUYS & FEMALES"...PLS ADVICE YOUR KIDS ALWAYS BE ALERT AND NOT GET INVOLVED WITH THEM WHEN THEY(YOUR KIDS) TRAVEL AND STAY IN THIS VICE HIGHLAND! 

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  20. Victor, temptations are many, if you know to control it.

    The world we are living are full of temptations as the bible hv spoken..it is only your will to resist such temptations.

    Your belief and your conscience is all it takes to ward off all temptations.

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