COMMENT | Exposing PAS hypocrisy over 4D
COMMENT | When I checked into a hotel in Muar some years ago, the room number was the same as my car plate - 8017. I don't usually buy the 4-Digit lottery but this was too good a sign to ignore. Sure enough, I struck a consolation prize!
Now, I don’t wish to promote gambling. But who the heck is PAS to tell me that I can't harvest my luck when I encounter such amazing situations (occasionally)? Or when a wise old man with a long white beard tells me, in a dream, of certain numbers?
I respect the fact that Muslims are not allowed to gamble. But that doesn’t mean that PAS should impose Islamic values on non-Muslims.
I once read on WhatsApp: If someone tells us, “My religion says I cannot eat ice cream.” Okay sure, we respect that, please go ahead and follow your beliefs.
But that’s very different from saying, “My religion says YOU cannot eat ice cream.” That’s forcing your beliefs on others, even though Islam specifically says, “Tiada paksaan dalam agama.” (There is no compulsion in religion.)
It’s like Hindu fundamentalists in India preventing Muslims there from slaughtering cows and eating beef because they believe cows are holy animals. If Muslim Malaysians don’t agree with what’s happening in India, why do they want to impose similar restrictions on non-Muslims...
COMMENT | When I checked into a hotel in Muar some years ago, the room number was the same as my car plate - 8017. I don't usually buy the 4-Digit lottery but this was too good a sign to ignore. Sure enough, I struck a consolation prize!
Now, I don’t wish to promote gambling. But who the heck is PAS to tell me that I can't harvest my luck when I encounter such amazing situations (occasionally)? Or when a wise old man with a long white beard tells me, in a dream, of certain numbers?
I respect the fact that Muslims are not allowed to gamble. But that doesn’t mean that PAS should impose Islamic values on non-Muslims.
I once read on WhatsApp: If someone tells us, “My religion says I cannot eat ice cream.” Okay sure, we respect that, please go ahead and follow your beliefs.
But that’s very different from saying, “My religion says YOU cannot eat ice cream.” That’s forcing your beliefs on others, even though Islam specifically says, “Tiada paksaan dalam agama.” (There is no compulsion in religion.)
It’s like Hindu fundamentalists in India preventing Muslims there from slaughtering cows and eating beef because they believe cows are holy animals. If Muslim Malaysians don’t agree with what’s happening in India, why do they want to impose similar restrictions on non-Muslims here?
Where will it end? Small retailers are now banned from selling liquor, not in Kelantan, but in Kuala Lumpur itself.
Will short skirts be banned?
So what comes next? As I wrote in a column in March 2020, will those wearing short skirts and revealing blouses be barred from entering shopping malls, as has happened in Kota Bharu, Kelantan? Or will shops be banned from displaying char siu (roast pork) because it will “offend” (or “tempt”) Muslims?
PAS leaders claim that their move to shut down 4D shops in Kedah is to curb gambling addiction. That’s like saying, you must not eat ice cream because those who eat too much of it will get diabetes. But why punish those who eat ice cream, say just twice a week?
Of course, anything in excess is bad, whether it’s too much sugar, fat or even Netflix and social media. So, will Kedah Menteri Besar Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor also ban sugar, fatty foods, social media and Netflix in the state to stop people from getting addicted to those things?
If Kedah PAS is worried about dangerous habits, the first thing they should really do is to ban cigarettes for Muslims. We all know that smoking addiction increases lung disease, various cancers, heart attacks, stroke and diabetes. Doesn't dear old PAS want to save Kedahans from all those terrible things?
Even worse, cigarettes and even vape and shisha (water pipes) have long been declared haram by our National Fatwa Council. As Muslims seemed to be ignoring this, this was reemphasised in a sermon by Jakim in 2019.
Why does PAS still allow smoking? Because it has become too ingrained among Malays? Instead, PAS chooses to clamp down on 4D shops which Muslims are not allowed to enter anyway. Is the party targeting non-Muslims to score some cheap political points? In the run-up to the Malacca state elections?
Or is it to deflect criticism of PAS failure to implement their long-declared goal of hudud law, despite being part of the federal government? Or to divert attention from how the 4D special draws have actually been increased by the so-called “Malay-Muslim” government from eight (under Pakatan Harapan rule) to 22 now? (money talks loudest eh?)
Does PAS really care?
The proper approach to deal with 4D, according to Khalid Samad of Amanah, is not the “hard way” of ketuanan Melayu (Malay overlordship) which forces Islamic rules on non-Muslims like the Taliban. Rather it’s for Muslim leaders to inspire non-Muslims by showing a sterling character (akhlak) and then persuade them through respectful discussions. This, says Khalid, is how the late Tok Guru Nik Aziz Nik Mat approached such issues.
Closing down 4D shops does little to help real addicts because they can always gamble online on their phones. Gambling addicts suffer from deeper mental issues that require serious treatment, including psychotherapy, group support, medication and rehabilitation programmes. If PAS is sincere about helping them, they should set up such support services, rather than just shut 4D shops as a political statement.
But it’s doubtful if PAS leaders really care about non-Muslims when their answer to journalists who ask difficult questions about the 4D issue is to hector them to speak Malay. Or when the menteri besar deals with the insensitive demolishing of an Indian temple by adding insult to injury, claiming that critics are “drunk on the toddy of popularity”.
Another clever tactic by PAS is to declare that “no religion allows gambling”. Hey, when did PAS ulamas become experts on world religions? However, they are clearly ignorant of how some deities in Chinese temples, “speaking” through mediums in trance, do give out 4D lucky numbers. It’s also a common custom among locals to gamble during Chinese New Year under the eyes of household altar gods such as Guan Gong.
Yet, the most important issue for society - cleaning up corruption - seems to get little emphasis from PAS. Instead, when Najib Abdul Razak was convicted of seven counts of corruption over RM42 million of 1MDB’s SRC International, PAS leaders made it a point to visit him at home the same night. This led Najib to call the “great holy” ulamas as his “true friends”.
Ah… such solidarity with the corrupt is so “inspiring”!
PAS should stop riding roughshod over non-Muslim rights on gambling and alcohol to gain votes. Instead, it should go all out to fight corruption, something that everybody will applaud.
Not that I support gambling addiction either. As someone who merely dabbles in 4D, I am just waiting to be given a hotel room that matches my car number plate. Don’t take that away from me.
ANDREW SIA is a veteran journalist who likes teh tarik khau kurang manis. You are welcome to give him ideas to brew at tehtarik@gmail.com.
The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.
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