Pas Mp Urges Govt To Cancel Special Draws Find Alternative Income Source

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PARLIAMENT | A PAS lawmaker has urged the government to find alternative sources of income via any means necessary and cancel a proposal to increase the number of "special draws" for number betting companies to 22 a year.
Ahmad Fadhli Shaari (PAS-Pasir Mas) said this was as the increase will not bring any benefit to the people.
"Do whatever it takes to find new sources of income but I appeal for the government to cancel the increase as it does not give out a good signal.
"Just how much money can be earned from this increase for us to absorb into the consolidated funds that at the end of the day will not bring good blessings to our national expenditure," Fadhli said in debating the Temporary Measures for Government Financing (Coronavirus Disease 2019 [Covid-19]) (Amendment) Bill 2021 in Parliament today.
"I appeal for the government to announce a reduction, cancel the increase in the number of draws so that, ultimately, we will not invite the wrath of Allah SWT," Ahmad Fadhli said.
Three regular draws
The "special draw" was first introduced in 1999 under the BN administration to raise funds for victims of the Nipah virus outbreak.
The Pakatan Harapan federal administration had reduced the number of annual special draws from 22 to 11 in 2019, and once again from 11 to eight last year. This was on top of three regular draws a week.
Since taking over Putrajaya, Perikatan Nasional under former prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin had reportedly reverted the number of special draws back to 22.
PAS has been a member of government since the previous administration and is currently with Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob's team.
PAS deputy president Idris Ahmad was appointed as minister in the Prime Minister's Department for religious affairs, while his deputy, Ahmad Marzuk Shaary, is its youth wing leader. - Mkini

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