Ustaz Rais and his 'parametered commission'

Parametered commission? Well, thats the term Ustaz Rais Yatim used. The title Ustaz is a recent honorary title in recognition of UMNO's stature as a party of ulamaks. This was declared by the Religious Affairs Minister, Jamal Khir. 
Billionaire Vincent Tan is most unhappy that the government has flipped and flopped over the issue of sports betting. He also laid blame on the opposition parties. In other words he is saying, the government of PM Najib was ok but for the meddling interference of opposition parties.

That's giving undue credit to the opposition parties. The millions, of all religious denominations, who objected to gambling, are not prompted on by the opposition. Gambling is unconscionable. So what about the millions of Malays and Chinese and others who objected to the licence being given to Ascot/Berjaya/Vincent Tan? Careful here- you may actually place the PM at loggerheads with voters. Maybe Vincent Tan is not aware of widely circulated printed material at Friday sermons denouncing the government's decision to grant the licence in the first place.

If the objective is to wipe out illegal bookies, then the better solution is to legalise every one of the illegal bookies. Since the Bakri MP has revealed the number of known illegal bookies, then, make them legal. On the other hand, if we know they are illegal, then why are they still in business? They should be hauled up before the law.

If we want to make it legal, make it so for every bookie operations and not just Vincent Tan's. The problem here is, almost all the government machinery is rooting in for one person- Vincent Tan. Why so? Why should he be given monopoly in getting a licence?

Legalising gambling is a complex issue. Admittedly, it is incumbent for a Muslim government to set aside provisions and facilities to satisfy the needs (cultural and religious) for its non Muslim citizens. Hence, if the eating of pork is part of the diet of non Muslims, a Muslim government is obliged to set aside facilities and land for the rearing of pigs. Muslims don't eat pigs anyway. The government allocates land in special zones so as not to offend Muslims and others who don't consume pork. If consumption of alcoholic beverages is part of the diet and a cultural need of non Muslims, then a Muslim government facilitates and licenses the production of alcohol. Muslims don't consume alcohol. If gambling is part of the cultural make up of the Chinese, then the government can also issue a licence. Muslims don't gamble.

It's a religious injunction. That being so, having a parametered commission in the words of the verbal acrobat Rais Yatim, is superfluous. If it's a religious thing, why does a Muslim require policing? Internal religious conviction should be sufficient to deter Muslims from gambling.

Now that PM Najib/UMNO president/finance minister/BN chairman has placed the final nail of the sports betting coffin, how will those who supported the issuance of licence now justify their support? Chief among them is unfortunately the former PM , Dr Mahathir. Awing Adik has earned the moniker of tauke KTM- Kuda, Toto and Magnum. Donald Lim who has just assumed the deputy finance minister's post can't possibly answer the issues properly. Chor who is now the Housing Minister and who is seen to know a lot about shady deals ( being an alumni of the infamous PKFZ financial scandal) should be able to explain. Perhaps w should ask the MCA president to explain whether gambling is part of the Chinese cultural make up.

If he can convince, then MCA should represent the gambling population and petition the government to legalise all sorts of gambling. But they must petition that ALL are given licence not just Vincent Tan. If Vincent Tan is the only one, then this is outright monopoly and its time that Malaysia has its own antitrust laws.

But I want further clarification from my favourite minister, the mode driven Minister of Information.

Tuan tuan dan puan, negaro kito sudah maju. Cubo la tuan tuan tengok- dulu air dalam sungai, maso ni air sudah ado dalam bosi, api pun ado dalam kaco, potek di topi, tongah menyalo, mengapo kapa bosi tak tanggolam, den naik heghan. Tapi rakyat masih tidak bahagio. Kojo apa? mato mato, pangkat apo? Sajen mejo. Pii kojo naik apo? Lenrobo tuo.

Dah naik jobo ekau ni. Den sekeh kepalo kau kang....

Just what is a parametered commission? I suppose it's a commission being told what it can and cannot do. In other words, it's a neutered commission.

If that is so, can we have a well parametered commission that would do much to reduce illegal prostitution? I don't know what is the contribution of this thriving business to Malaysia's GDP. It may be part of the service business which is probably included in the PM's liberalisation of the service industry. People are coming to Malaysia now for their sex holidays. That surely is an indication, it's a burgeoning business. That would surely warrant a parametered commission.

So let's have a parametered commission. I don't know what Rais means when he said this. Probably, he has in mind the setting up of a commission, pro gambling of course, that would ensure conservative Malays do not gamble.

But wait, why is he supporting an industry which the PM has said in unequivocal terms, he is not allowing a license for? Where will Rais put his face after his boss has rejected this concerted rear guard attack on anti gambling forces in the country?

But there is actually a hidden reason why Rais has chosen to become the spokesman for sports betting. Before I forget, let's not forget that Rais is also an ulamak as defined by that ex general who has become a minister in charge of Islam in Najib's cabinet. Ustaz Rais has revealed to us that the value of sports betting is around RM 10 billion a year- that's 10,000,000,000. The government needs to tax this valuable economic resource to finance its welfare activities.

Will Rais press for a parametered commission to determine the application of tax income from sinful economic services?