Prime Minister Najib Razak has been urged to explain in Parliament news reports stating that the government is considering proposals to legalise sports betting.

"We want the Premier who is also the finance minister to come to parliament next week and give some answers on this," urged MP Anthony Loke (DAP-Rasah).

An AFP news report yesterday quoted the premier confirming, " there are proposals, but we will see first," when asked about the matter. 

NONE At a press conference in the Parliament lobby today, Loke ( left ) described sports gambling as an activity which leads to "all sorts of social ills, especially to the gambling-prone Chinese community".

He added that the government should hold a referendum for any proposal that has such an adverse social impact on the people.

"This requires a national debate to figure out. The pros and cons of legalising sports beting."

Meanwhile, Dzulkefly Ahmad (PAS-Kuala Selangor) said the disturbing revelation indicated that Najib is departing from the Islam Hadhari principles set out by his predecessor, former premier Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

"If this is being mulled, then it is clear that from when he took over the government, his policies have deviated from the principles of Islam Hadhari."

Also at the press conference, PKR secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution (PKR-Machang) backed his opposition colleagues,saying that Najib should clarify why he is mulling legalising sports gambling.

"Whatever the decision, when considering the proposal, what is the yardstick? Is it only over the huge tax collections? Are they so desperate to bridge the deficit and increase tax collections? If that is the only consideration we think that it is not sensible." 

  'News blackout'

He also hit out at what he say is an attempt by the government to black out the news on the sports betting proposal.  

"I read the Malay dailies today and see that no news of this made the Malay language papers. Just from that, we can see that this is a deliberate attempt to hide this issue from the Malays."

Loke pointed to an article in yesterday's The Star on how private sector investment will help power the New Economic Model (NEM). The article states that Malaysia was considering legalising sports betting.

“Is the gaming industry going to power the NEM?” asked Loke.

anwar pc 290607 saifuddin nasution The AFP news report comes on the wake of concerns brought up by Saifuddin ( right ) in parliamentary debate two days ago, on whether the government is considering renewing the sports betting license to Berjaya owned Ascot Sports.

That licence was once granted to the company under Mahathir Mohamed's premiership.

However it was revoked by former premier Abdullah Badawi.

In his address, Saifuddin also implicated independent Pasir Mas parliamentarian Ibrahim Ali of having business links to companies owned by Berjaya tycoon Vincent Tan which engaged in gambling activities.

According to Loke, Sports betting is rampant over the EPL and European leagues, often coming to a head during the World Cup. 

It is estimated that the illegal sports betting industry in the country rakes in about RM850 million daily.