Information, Communication and Culture Minister Dr Rais Yatim has proposed the formation of a commission to monitor and control licensed gambling in the country.

He said the commission could help the government regulate and reduce illegal gambling activities with bets reported to be worth RM10 billion a year.

azlan "If the gaming licence can be implemented correctly according to certain rules, we will be able to curb illegal gambling," he told reporters after receiving the Indonesian Journalists Association, West Sumatra delegation at Angkasapuri today.

He said allowing sports betting was not something new compared to horse racing and lotteries.

"It should be regulated... it should not have discrimination. We need to be objective and identify the social rights of non-Muslims in the country," he said.

Taxes from sports betting can help non-Muslims

He said tax revenue from sports betting would enable the government to help non-Muslims.

On the the Indonesian Journalists Association's visit, Rais said the ministry proposed the Association of Malaysian and Indonesian Journalists (Iswami) to be registered in both countries.

"With the registration, we can plan more concrete programmes," he said.

Rais also proposed Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka (DBP) and Pustaka Indonesia to revive the role of the Bahasa Melayu-Bahasa Indonesia Terminology Committee to streamline Malay terminologies used by both countries.

"Let us enter a more beautiful and productive stage. If 300 million people speak in one language, I think there will be thunder in the sky.

 

"We should not lose out to French and Russian as we have more users. These are my views for future generations," he said.

- Bernama