1,000 join anti-gambling 'Tak Nak Judi' launch
A 'victory rally' commmemorating the government's cancellation of plans to legalise sports betting saw the launch today of an anti-gambling campaign aimed at reinforcing the rakyat's stand against all forms of gambling.
A 'victory rally' commmemorating the government's cancellation of plans to legalise sports betting saw the launch today of an anti-gambling campaign aimed at reinforcing the rakyat's stand against all forms of gambling.
The 'anti-sports betting parade', earlier scheduled for 2pm, was retimed to 5pm out of respect for the
burial
of Norashikin Mohd Seth, 80.
Norashikin, who died yesterday, was the late widow of former deputy prime minister Ismail Abd Rahman.
Despite the delay of about three hours, about 1,000 people showed up at the National Mosque in Kuala Lumpur to show their support for the Movement Against Gambling's (GMJ) 'Tak Nak Judi' campaign.
The main objectives of the campaign, said its organisers, were to educate the people to hate gambling, to step up the enforcement of gambling laws and to regulate existing and future gambling licenses.
The victory parade-cum-campaign launch, kicked off at 5.15 pm, after the Asar prayers and lasted for about 45 minutes.
About 50 police officers were seen patrolling the area, while there was no sign of any riot police (FRU).
Chairperson of the GMJ, Mohd Azmi Abdul Hamid (
right
) greeted the crowd with ‘Salam reformasi!’ before officially launching the campaign.
The enthusiastic chants of slogans such as “Judi judi! Bantah judi!” (Oppose gambling!) were heard reverberating throughout the energetic crowd.
With the launch of the campaign, Azmi also showcased a book titled ‘Gambling in Malaysia: Legitimizing the Illegitimate’.
Sold at RM8, the book takes a look at the gambling industry in Malaysia and contains anti-gambling reports taken from various news sources.
Flyers containing the view points of the four major religions in Malaysia which condemn gambling, were distributed to the crowd.
Speaking to reporters after the launch, Azmi said that the campaign to oppose gambling activities will continue, as that the government has not shown it is fully committed to banning gambling activities.
PKR youth wing chief Syamsul Iskandar Mat Akin, who was also at the launch, started his speech with the slogan “Najib judi, Rosmah judi, Umno pun judi!”
A
mong others, the Coalition of Muslim Students Malaysia (GAMIS), Muslim Youth Organisation Malaysia (ABIM) and the PAS youth chief Nasrudin Hassan were there to launch the campaign.
GMJ changed its initial plan to hold a protest rally against sports betting to a victory parade after the government last week decided not to issue a sports betting license to Berjaya Corporation after adverse public reaction to the move.
