More lottery draws was responsibility of then-cabinet, including PAS ministers - Zafrul

The decision to increase special lottery draws to 22 times a year during the previous administration was the collective responsibility of the cabinet, said Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz.

The former finance minister said the decision included PAS ministers at the time.

Zafrul, now senior political adviser to the prime minister, said special draws were not new, having been introduced in 1999, while the 22-draw annual ceiling had already existed under previous BN administrations before he became finance minister.

“During the pandemic, the government at the time returned to that existing ceiling (of 22 draws), and this matter was also informed to Parliament through an official reply.

“Importantly, under today’s Madani government, the special draws have been reduced to just eight times a year,” he told Bernama today.

He was responding to claims by certain parties that he should personally bear responsibility for the increase in special draws.

Zafrul said the facts were clear and he had no intention of prolonging the issue, which he said could distract the government from its national development agenda.

“The focus of the Madani government is to solve the people’s problems and ensure that every policy genuinely benefits them,” he said.

The issue resurfaced amid claims and disputes over the justification for increasing the number of special draws during the Covid-19 pandemic.

After taking office in December 2022, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim announced that the number of special draws would be reduced from 22 to eight a year, effective 2023.

- Bernama

YOURSAY | Special lottery draws: 'PAS-sing' the buck?

PAS leader to Anwar: It was Zafrul who approved 22 special draws

Sanusi's gambling 'curse' on Anwar gets 22-special draw boomerang

Gambling in Kedah: Anwar will be 'cursed' if it resumes, says Sanusi