Perak PKR has urged the government to not turn Malaysia into a "gambling haven" which could create more social problems.

NONE According to state PKR deputy chair Dr Lee Boon Chye, the country is now saturated with the various forms of legalised gambling with number betting shops Magnum, Toto and Da Ma Cai running weekly draws on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays.

Besides these weekly draws, there are also sometimes special draws on Tuesdays and the situation is further compounded by illegal betting centres that have mushroomed nationwide.

Lee said the country was already plagued with various social ills other than gambling and "we do not need another gaming licence to further ruin the nation".

lingam tape hearing 300108 vincent tan 02 He also questioned Najib's rationality in reissuing the sports betting licence to Ascot Sports, which is owned by politically-connected tycoon Vincent Tan (right) .

He argued that countries like Macau and Singapore adopted an open tender system for the issuance of sports betting licences and that Gentings Highlands recently spent millions in Singapore dollars to bid for a licence in the island republic.

"So, why the special treatment in granting the licence on a golden platter to Tan without using the tender system?" asked Lee, who is also Gopeng MP.

'Najib - father of gamling'

"Is he (Tan) the favourite son of BN and more Bumiputra than the other Bumiputras in the country (to deserve the licence)?" he asked, adding that he does not buy Najib's argument that granting the licence will reduce illegal gambling during the 2010 World Cup next month.

Lee was speaking to the media after participating in a protest demonstration by some 300 Pakatan Rakyat leaders and members inside the state mosque compound in Ipoh after the Friday prayers.

NONE Earlier, chants of "Mahathir father of development; Pak Lah father-in-law of Khair; Najib father of gambling" were heard from the crowd.

However, the protest was short lived because police moved in to dispursed the crowd after 10-minutes.

The issuing of the sports gaming licence has drawn flak from several quarters, especially opposition parties and NGOs, with today's protest being part of a nationwide drive by Pakatan Rakyat to press the government to cancel it.