PAS, which continues to grapple with the contradiction between its theocratic ideals and its desire to win the hearts and minds of non-Malay voters, is now invoking the plight of women married to men with gambling addictions to justify its push to ban gambling outlets.

According to Harakah, PAS deputy president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man, speaking on a Chinese-language podcast, recalled how the late PAS spiritual leader Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat, during his tenure leading the state, took steps to shut down gambling outlets...