The DAP will file an emergency motion in the Dewan Rakyat to debate the sports betting controversy when Parliament reconvenes on Monday.

DAP Socialist Youth chief Anthony Loke said the aim is to force the government to retract the licence issued to Ascot Sports Sdn Bhd.

Loke noted however that he only expects the motion to be debated on Tuesday or Wednesday.

This is to make way for another emergency motion to be filed by Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin, to debate yesterday’s Israeli strike on a Freedom Flotilla that has killed at least 15 people.

NONE Loke, the Rasah MP, said the party is looking beyond the obvious religion-based implications that come with issuance of a sports betting licence.

“We are looking at the social impact. We read some comments in the papers where the company (Ascot Sports had) defended the decision (on the licence), claiming it will help control illegal bookies and also generate revenue for the government,” he told a press conference at the DAP headquarters in Petaling Jaya.

“This argument is flawed. Just because you cannot control an illegal activity, are you going to make it legal? Then what of prostitution or drugs? If you legalise everything, then we won’t need the police force to protect us.”

Loke said the RM525 million paid to influential tycoon Vincent Tan by the Berjaya gaming group for a 70 percent stake in Ascot, is worrying as it is reflective of how much money will be channelled to sports betting when the operations kick off.

“We estimate the licence is valued at RM750 million, based on the RM525 million value for a 70 percent stake in Ascot.

“We all know Ascot is just a shell company, but when it just got the licence its value shot up to RM750 million... just imagine what kind of revenue we are looking at, probably between RM3 - 5 billion per annum.

“If the government legalises sports betting, it will mean that billions of ringgit from the pockets of the people will go to sports betting, when the government is planning to cut subsidies and the people’s income remains stagnant.”

Common Pakatan stand

Dapsy will also give its full support to PAS Youth’s planned demonstration on July 3 against sports betting, Loke said.

kelantan sports betting judi protest bachok 280510 "(Pakatan Rakyat) has a common stand on the issue and we will participate in the event,” he said.

About 100,000 protesters are expected to gather outside Istana Negara in a culmination of the PAS campaign against football betting.

PAS Youth is expected to submit a memorandum addressed to the Agong, Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin, at the end of the demonstration.

Smaller protests will be held nationwide earlier involving thousands of people.

'Keep legalised sports betting out of Perak'