BOMBSHELL: BILLIONS OF RINGGIT LOST TO ILLEGAL GAMBLING A YEAR – NO NEED FOR GST BUT ‘I SURRENDER TO ALLAH’ NAJIB CLOSES AN EYE
This is what an ardent gambling enthusiast disclosed to me: “If the Malaysian government can collect revenue from illegal gambling there will be no need for GST and perhaps even other taxes.” This has turned out not to be far-fetched but very true upon further investigation and research by me. Malaysia loses billions annually in lost income from illegal gambling and the ‘rakyat’ are the losers in the end.
There has been sporadic crackdowns on illegal gambling by the authorities from time-to-time. But the fact of the matter based on ground research is that during these bleak and hard times illegal gambling is thriving.
In turn, social ills within households where a person or persons engage in gambling is mounting. There are more households now on the brink of financial collapse due to irresponsible gambling.
While traditionally, gambling was viewed as a favored activity by the Chinese community, it comes as a great revelation that Malay-Muslims are flocking by the hordes to gambling dens operating underground throughout the country.
The economy is worsening and many people, be they Malay, Chinese or Indian and others including foreign workers see gambling as a way to gain financially without having to endure hardship and suffering.
But, on the contrary, since these illegal gambling activities lack licensing and regulation by the authorities, not only are billions of ringgit lost in revenue to these illegal operators but there have been numerous cases of cheating and wrongdoing that can’t be reported as the parties to the crime are both wrong.
This is why the social ills created by illegal gambling is on the rise and creeping up the scale and should in a relatively short time become a major threat to the well-being of the people.
The social costs
Based on interviews, research and data collated on the ground, a major factor in the losing battle against illegal gambling is the fact that there is an indifferent and apathetic attitude by the government towards it.
Most hard-core gamblers confess that they want the government to legalize, license and regulate illegal gambling so that they are protected as they openly state that now they are at the mercy of the illegal operators of these gambling activities who are basically underworld vice and triad members.
With a growing number of these gamblers, there are many who resort to borrowing to feed their habit and often at exorbitant interest rates from money lenders and the traditional “Ah Long”: or loan shark.
Despite the growing dangers and the destructive nature of illegal gambling because of the lack of monitoring, it is difficult to fully ascertain how bad the problem is unless a comprehensive study of the menace is undertaken.
Illegal gambling in Malaysia today is basically understood as the black market 4D and digit games, football betting, internet casinos and to a lesser extent the playing of mahjong and cock-fighting.
While this might be viewed by casual observers as a trivial activity, the extent and the numbers of people who participate in this activity is staggering and includes people from all walks of life and all sections of society.
This why illegal gambling must be taken seriously and the Barisan Nasional (BN) government develop the political will to take charge of the situation and stop the slide of revenue being lost, and worst still, falling into the hands of those who are engaged out rightly in illegal activities.
Government intervention vital
The government must buck up. It must begin to play a more pro-active role in policing the illegal gambling industry and do what is necessary to ensure that they not only lose billions in revenue but are able to protect, educate and take care of gamblers who are now basically at the mercy of thugs and underworld figures.
The illegal gambling industry is flourishing and part of the reason for this is the nexus or link between underworld vice kingpins and bad hat politicians and rogue policemen who are knowingly protecting them under their wings.
This is sadly true and this is also the foremost reason why the illegal gambling industry is growing by leaps and bounds as all the bad hats in authority in this country want to jump on the bandwagon to get a slice of the action.
This is why it is high time that the government either takes firm action or find that the social conditions in this country start to get from bad to worse.
The ball is at their feet and it is really basically up to the authorities what the wish to do with this matter as this is a situation that warrants their full consideration and only they can handle it.
– Christopher Fernandez/ MAILBAG
.
Contributer : Malaysia Chronicle http://ift.tt/2cxIw9V
Post a Comment