DAP chairperson Lim Kit Siang has asked Pahang Menteri Besar Adnan Yaakob to apologise for implying that gambling is a way of life of Chinese Malaysians, even in the 21 st century.

"It is most shocking that Adnan made the insensitive, offensive and insulting remark o­n opium-smoking and implying that gambling is a way of life of Chinese Malaysians in the 21st century", Lim said in his speech at the Cheras DAP anniversary dinner in Kuala Lumpur last night.

Speaking in Kuantan o­n Monday, Adnan revealed that the Federal Government had issued a licence for a second casino in Malaysia at Colmar Tropicale Resort in Bukit Tinggi. The first o­ne is at Genting Highlands. Both are located in the state of Pahang.

Adnan said the gaming centres are not for Muslims who are not allowed to go there to gamble.

Orderly conduct

The menteri besar had said that the issue of the licence of gambling centres is to have orderly conduct of the gambling activities just like the British colonial government did when it allowed specified areas for opium-smoking by the Chinese.

"The comparison is most inappropriate, insensitive and offensive. Adnan seemed to forget that we are in the 21st century in the year 2003, and not a century ago, during the British colonial times or the days of the Opium War," Lim fumed.

He said it is also shocking that at this age and time, there are still Umno leaders who associate opium-smoking and gambling as a Chinese way of life.

"Adnan Yaakob should withdraw his statement and apologise for the offensive remark. The Cabinet should also direct Adnan to apologise at its meeting o­n Wednesday," Lim said.

"As Malaysia is not back to the British colonial times, but is practising a system of parliamentary democracy, the Cabinet should defer the issue of a second gambling centre in the country at Bukit Tinggi for a final decision by the non-Muslim MPs in Parliament since Adnan claimed that it is meant for non-Muslims o­nly," the DAP chief added.