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Massive street protests await sports betting legalization in Malaysia

Posted on June 27th, 2010

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In line with the the present global economic climate, several countries have adopted various legislation to ease their economies. Gambling is one of the hottest issues discussed today as a means to easing budgets by most countries today. The most basic of arguments regarding this issue is the massive amount of revenue it generates at the cost of social problems such as addiction that will, as alleged by those opposed to gambling, be harmful to the public. Affected by the global financial crisis as much as most countries in the West, Malaysia has started considering legalizing sports betting. Underground sports betting has been in operation in Malaysia for a long time and the the Malaysian government seeks a share of the profits by way of revenue through taxing the activity. Not only that, but having legalized sports betting, the Malaysian government would be able to regulate the said activity at a much better degree. However, not all parties agree to such a decision.

Strong opposing parties of the legalization of sports betting are planning a boycott on a bill that will hit the streets July 3. The protest is in response to lurking rumors that the Kuala Lumpur government has said yes to proposals from private entities to introduce legal sports betting to the public. The proposition is highly frowned upon by concerned groups that worry about the negative effects this proposal will have on the Malaysian nation. Pan-Malaysia Islamic party’s youth secretary Kamarulzaman Mohamad says that the country is already amidst “too many social problems – drug addiction, free sex and baby dumping” and that “Sports betting will add to our problems as most youths watch football. They will be influenced to borrow money,” said the secretary. As a way of getting their stand on the matter heard, the group together with other political parties with the same stand will be coming together and will stage a protest march to the King’s palace.

Right now, gambling is mostly banned in the muslim state but lottery, horse racing and betting in a casino are allowed. This is applicable to the Muslim najority in the country. Seasoned opposition legislator Lim Kit Siang is one with the protest saying that at the current state,”There are already too many lottery draws in the country” and legalization of another form of gambling will worsen the situation among locals. The issue went public when Ascot Sports released a statement saying that the company was given permission to operate sports betting in May, just as the English Premier League started its new season.

However, Prime Minister Najib Razak cleared that the sports company was not given any permission or license to operate any business of the same nature. The premier’s United Malays National Organisation or UMNO is also very much divided on their stand. The organization’s influential youth sector is opposing the licensing of sports betting as confirmed by Khairy Jamaluddin, head of the youth sector. Sectors of the government that are for the license is raising the reason that the legalization will result in a much-needed revenue boost for the country. Legalizing the said betting platform will also help remove illegal gambling among the government’s problems.

Mahathir Mohamad, Malaysia’s former prime minister believes that awarding the license to Ascot Sports is a sound move. He continues to reason for the non-muslim minority living in Malaysia saying, “Why should we restrict people from doing other things that are not against their religion?” . It is said that about $6 billion dollars or 20 billion ringgit can be earned from the illegal gambling market, as assessed by Berjaya, a group that owns 70% of Ascot Sports.