'Ask Umno: what have they done to the taxes collected from gambling? Are they sure these were not used to finance any Muslim project?'

Azhar: Guan Eng lied about using gambling money

Albert: I seriously doubt (Penang opposition leader) Azhar Ibrahim and (Umno Youth information chief) Reezal Merican Naina think through or have the intelligence to know the realities that is happening in this country. If you remember, a senior minister once said that non-Muslims are "unclean".

Can they honestly say that all the money used by the government for the past 50 years are ‘halal' and ‘clean' when building the religious infrastructures, paying Malay civil servants for all Muslim-related activities, etc?

Ade: Azhar, stop being a hypocrite. All the taxes coming from Genting Casino, Berjaya Sports Toto, etc, are being used to feed you through subsidies, financial aid, and the never-ending help channelled to bumiputeras.

Do you think the Umno-led government differentiate between the gambling money used for non-Malays and that for Malays?

Why: Umno thinks Malays are still having 1960s mindset and read only Utusan Malaysia and not the Internet. If Umno wants to make so much noise, then I challenge them not to renew Magnum, Sports Toto, Big Sweep and Genting's gambling licences.

Ask Umno: what have they done to the taxes collected from gambling? Are they sure these were not used to finance any Muslim project?

Louis: At least Penang CM Lim Guan Eng used the money to give to the poor, while Umno leaders pocket it. When a person is a hardcore poor, any financial aid is welcomed as long as it is legal in the eyes of the law. As the saying goes, 'beggars are no choosers'.

Wira: Azhar should ask the federal government to issue special Muslim currency notes where only Muslims can handle and trade since our ringgit are handled by gamblers, pork sellers, haram meat dealers and by people involved in all kinds of sinful activities including corruption money collected by Umno cronies.

Sarajun Hoda: This is an interesting issue. Muslims pray in surau built by developers using money from homebuyers who include non-Muslims. The federal government collects all sorts of excise duties and taxes and pay scholarship and kebajikan (social welfare) money to Muslim students.

Even the masjid are built with such money. The Jabatan Agama people even enjoy perks from it. So why is Umno only targeting the Penang government?

When revenue from gambling is 'halal'

Multi Racial: Politicians in Malaysia have to move on. Ironically, Umno criticises the Penang government for using Perak Turf Club's gambling money. But at the same time, these politicians know the federal government uses more gambling money than (Pakatan governments) but they do not say anything.

It is time for politicians to be more mature and objective. If you are in favour of gambling, make your stand and do it consistently. Similarly, if you are against it, make your stand and do it consistently. This applies, too, to all other subjects.

Anon: If revenues from gaming is not halal , do you think establishments like Genting, Sports Toto, 4-D and Magnum would still exist? A chunk of the government's revenue comes from these companies. If it's not halal , then non-Muslims would have gotten more subsidies and aid. Tak guna otak, ke?

Gunner: Does the federal treasury have a separate account to take care of revenues collected from, eg, taxes of Genting Berhad? If the answer is no, then all revenues derived from gaming and liquor industries should also deemed to be haram .

Bear in mind, this money is also being used to pay personal emoluments of the civil service as well as the Yang Berhormats. Not only that, the government also utilise it to build and maintain mosques.

So Mr Reezal Merican, what have you got so say about this?

Michael Ng: It is people like Azhar who politicise Islam in hope of gaining political mileage that makes the rakyat sick with all these Umnoputras.

Hashim: In some countries such as Thailand, the money from activities as gambling and tobacco/liquor sales are categorised as ‘sin tax'. The money collected is used to fund public service media and non-governmental organisations. Perhaps this is something we can learn from our northern neighbour.

Asri defends Penang gov't, gambling revenue 'halal'

Kunta Kinte: Thank you to (former Perlis mufti) Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin for your clarification. At last, we have some one who is certified to comment on this religious matter. Whatever happened to the government ulama, why so silent on this?

It seems that Umno in Pakatan states are becoming more and more religious but they must get their facts right before passing remarks.

Tell me: Azhar Ibrahim, what is your take on this, since a more qualified Islamic scholar has expressed the truth on the issue. Even your salary may come from gambling and liquor business taxes, so please tell me how come BN or Umno doesn't know about it.

Call me Jibby: I'm waiting for the press statement from the Perak mufti (Harussani Zakaria).

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