Maka judi dan Tuan Penasihat@APCO pun kembali lagi
Biasanya kita hanya memetik sudut-sudut pandangan tertentu yang difikirkan menarik untuk ulasan, untuk dikongsi buah fikiran dan pandangan; termasuk pandangan yang sangat berbeza. Salah satu daripada medianya yang kerap menarik perhatian ialah MySinchew ini.
Tatkala membaca tajuk pandangan tuan Thomas di bawah ini, apa yang terlintas di kepala saya ialah bahawa penulis ini berpendapat adalah TIDAK wajar kita membiarkan usaha mengekang rakyat kita berjudi. Sebabnya mudah: Rakyat berhak mengurus kehidupannya ― rakyat berhak untuk berjudi.
Semasa terlibat dalam polemik isu judi bola musim piala dunia yang lalu, saya mengulas dalam Malaysiakini dengan memasukkan adjektif, ‘compulsive’ untuk penjudi. Ada pembaca yang kurang senang dengan hujah ini. Pembaca ini bertanya, kenapakah kita bercakap tentang kaki judi yang ketagih dan kemaruk judi? Apa pun kerja buat, jika sudah tidak terkawal dan berlebihan, sangatlah memudharatkan.
Bagi kita ini satu pandangan yang menarik yang tidak boleh kita pandang sepi. Apa yang lebih menarik dalam reaksi pembaca ini ialah melihat bagaimana seseorang manusia itu bertingkah apabila dia berpendapat bahawa kehidupan peribadinya sebagai manusia yang sangat normal, telah dicerobohi. Manusia ini menjadi tidak selesa apabila melihat zon kehidupannya sebagai manusia yang bebas dan merdeka itu cuba dicerobohi dan diatur-atur oleh pihak lain, termasuk pemerintah.
Salah satu hujah yang kerap kita dengar ialah seperti berikut:
Dalam konteks kehidupan manusia ‘yang biasa dan normal’ ini, maka kita (termasuk pemerintah) tidaklah boleh menghalang seseorang manusia itu minum minuman keras ― sebagai salah satu aktiviti sosial, bersama-sama teman-temannya. Begitu jugalah, seorang manusia itu tidaklah boleh dipaksa untuk TIDAK membeli nombor ekor, bukan besar sekadar seRial@seringgit dua saja, bukan apa hanyalah sebagai hobi dalam kehidupan yang penuh warna warni; kehidupan yang kaya pula dengan elemen ‘nasib yang lagi mujur’ ini. Apakah keseronokan seperti ini pun mahu disuruh-suruh, diatur-atur, dipaksa-paksa oleh pemerintah yang mahu mengagamakan negara?
Inilah cabaran yang paling besar kerja-kerja dakwah. Inilah salah satu cabaran besar buat mereka yang sentiasa berjuang dengan ‘mengajak ke arah kebaikan dan menyeru dijauhi segala kemungkaran’ itu. Mereka yang sangat ghairah dalam usaha dakwah ini wajar sekali mencari kaedah-kaedah yang bukan saja sesuai dan penuh hemah ― tetapi juga strategik. Sehubungan itu, kita berpendapat bahawa kaedah dan pendekatan sedia ada yang konvensional seperti berkhutbah dari atas mimbar, berhujah di pentas-pentas ceramah, mengulas dari kotak-kotak tv, berforum di pentas perdana, sebaik-baiknya diteliti semula.
Kerja dakwah begini, apatah lagi apabila diwarnai dengan unsur-unsur lakon layar yang diada-adakan, bukan saja menjemukan tapi amat tidak meyakinkan. Kaedah ini menjadi sangat memudharat apabila dunia dakwah itu pun telah dicemari oleh pemain-pemain yang hidup dalam dunia yang berbeza; amalan dan kata-katanya.
Bagi kita ada contoh dakwah yang baik dan cukup berkesan: Kehidupan peribadi pendakwah itu sendiri sebagai elemen penting dakwah. Di sinilah kekuatan TGNA sebagai pemimpin, sebagai pendakwah begitu terserlah. Contoh perjuangan beliau menghadapi isu judi ini dapat kita lihat tatkala Pas mengambilalih Kelantan dalam tahun 1990. Majalah korporat PMBK, Perbadanan Kemajuan Menteri Besar Kelantan, Qiadah pernah membentangkan isu ini.
ii.
Apakah isu pengharaman judi yang dilaksanakan Pas dalam tahun 1990 itu sesuatu yang baru, satu kebetulan?
Mutakhir ini media yang dikuasai oleh parti komponen BN dan juga parti-parti komponen BN itu sendiri, khususnya parti-parti Cina (tentulah bukanlah Umno sendiri) bangun dengan gagahnya untuk mengangkat isu judi ini.
Ini bukanlah kali pertama isu judi ini menjadi perhatian rakyat. Kita tentu belum lupa isu judi bola yang telah mereka lempar ke dalam gelanggang. ‘Dana’ yang mahu mereka kaut dan pondoi daripada judi sangat lumayan untuk membiayai pilihan raya termasuk ― sekian banyak ‘buy-election’ yang saban hari, semakin mahal.
Apakah ini semua satu kebetulan?
Tatkala judi bola piala dunia sedang panas seperti nyalanya api dalam relau, kepala gerabak 1Malaysialah yang paling teruk digodam oposisi ― kiri-kanan, depan-belakang!
Sekarang ini, apakah manis untuk ketua kerajaan Islamnya ( ini yang pernah diisytiharkan oleh seorang mantan yang baru saja muncul dengan kisah hidup 888 halaman itu, lengkap pula dengan tuduhan bahawa anak didiknya main empat orang perempuan! Kesian dia, sungguh kesian. Tatakala usia setua itu masih lahap doyannya membuat kerja seperti ini. Tidakkah tuan kesian, melihatnya?) sekali lagi muncul untuk menjadi heronya judi?
Tentulah tidak manis.
Jadi bukankah lebih manis, kerja mencuci segala najis judi ini elok dibawa saja ke rumah MCA, ke rumahnya Gerakan yang rata-rata Cina... itu?
Menghina? Bukankah itu contoh dan amalan yang diamalkan oleh para gerombolan Umno/BN selama ini?
Kita tidak nampak bahawa isu judi di Kelantan ini satu kebetulan. APCO tentu tidak mahu dituduh ‘buta gaji’, kata kawan-kawan Cina saya!
Nah, sekarang sila ikuti tulisan tuan Thomas.
“Don't gamble away our children's future
Opinion oleh Thomas Lee Seng Hock
2011-03-07 20:19
The issue of gambling is again hogging the political limelight, following the PAS Kelantan state government decision to disallow the sales of Big Sweep lottery tickets in coffee-shops and other business premises.
The common perception at present is that since the Big Sweep lottery scheme has been given a licence to operate, the Kelantan state government has no authority and power to ban its sale of lottery tickets in the state.
On the contrary, although the licence to operate the lottery is given by the federal government, the authority responsible for issueing permits to premises to operate as lotttery outlets is the local council.
The lottery can be sold in Kelantan, but only in premises which have been specifically licensed for the purpose, i.e.legally permitted to operate as lottery outlets.
Hence, the Kota Baru Municipal Council is not intrinsically wrong per se to take action on business premises selling lottery tickets as they are not licensed as lottery outlets. A bookshop, for example, has no business selling lottery tickets.
The argument in support of the Big Sweep lottery being allowed to be freely available to the people is that it is a fundamental right enshrined and endorsed by the Social Welfare Lottery Act.
This antiquated and obsolete law was originally enacted to allow the federal government to raise funds via a lottery scheme for its welfare work among the poor and underpriviledged people.
Hence, it surely is not right to use this archaic legislation to justify the current business operation of the gambling commercial enterprises. The profits from these lottery schemes run by these companies are not specifically meant and used for welfare work, and as such, these schemes should not be covered by the provisions of the Social Welfare Lottery Act.
Having looked at the legal implication of the Kelantan action, we should also consider the religious, moral, social and ethical dimensions of the gambling issue.
Gambling is basically a games of chance, involving the wagering of money or something of value.
Currently, gambling is a major commercial activity, with a worldwide legal gambling market involving an estimated US$400 billion (RM1.2 trillion) in 2010. In Malaysia, hundreds of millions of ringgit are involved in the three weekly lottery draws operated by the three major gaming corporations -- Sport Toto, Magnum, and Big Sweep. Hence, gambling is a signficant economic activity, and an avenue for the federal government to collect massive taxes.
But the moral and social consequences of the gambling habit are certainly matters of deep concern. The emergence of loan sharks, for example, is a direct consequence of the gambling culture.
In view of the moral and social consequences, almost all religions frown on gambling as an evil practice, a sin, at least the official level.
However, many countries, including Malaysia, have made allowance for those who wish to gamble, and accommodate them by regulating and limiting gambling with legal jurisdictions and taxation.
In Malaysia, gambling has been legalized with licences given to various companies to operate lottery schemes, and at the turf clubs and casinos. Legally, only the non-Muslims are allowed to purchase lottery tickets and patronise these gambling joints.
The issue PAS raised concerning the moral evil of gambling is not without merit, and we should seriously give the party a hearing on the matter, at least on the following grounds:
First of all, the most serious consequence of a legalized gambling scheme is the harmful impact it has on the poorest section of our society. Even without the benefit of extensive empirical studies, we can verify by objective observation that the largest number of gamblers come from the poorest section of our community.
Psychologically, many of these poor people have conditioned themselves to think that they could never uplift their current economic status, unless they could strike it big in a lottery draw or win big in other gambling schemes. Gambling gives them a hope of sort.
Secondly, the easily availablity of licensed gambling outlets leads to the temptation to try one's luck, especially when the jackpot winnings nowadays can be in tens of millions ringgit. The inititate "harmless" play can eveutally develop into a habit, a bondage to the gambling demon.
Many a life and family have been destroyed by the evil of addicted gambling.
Thirdly, one serious consequence of gambling is the rise of criminal activities. Desparate addicted gamblers will steal, rob, or even murder to get money to fuel their gambling habit or to repay gambling debts. Many are harassed by loan sharks who use all sorts of violent tactics against the borrowers and their innocent family members. The rise in snatch thefts, break-ins, robberies, etc is certainly one consequence of unrestrained gambling.
Finally, many families have been destroyed by a gambling father, a gambling mother, a gambling son. Lives have been lost due to gambling losses. Recently, there have been some very sad stories about housewives from Johor travelling to the casinos in Singapore, and causing break-ups of families.
While the MCA and Gerakan politicians, as usual, are trying to cash in to score political points by attacking PAS over its attempt to curb the spread of the gambling evil among the people, are they really aware and concerned about the moral-social and spiritual well-being of the citizens?
Whatever may be the theological basis of the PAS philosophy and practices, it is certainly clear on what is universally morally right and morally wrong, and as a Christian I accept and endorse its moral-ethical values as being consistent with universal moral principles. Note, I said moral-ethical values, not theology.
The promoters of Islamophobia and PASphobia in the MCA and Gerakan use every conceivable opportunity and excuse to attack the DAP for giving in to the PAS Islamic state agenda, exploiting the ignorance and fear of the theologically illiterate and politically naive in their desparate attempt to hold on to their little derived power given to them by Umno.
We should not allow ourselves to be deceived and misled by the politics of fear propagated by the promoters of Islamophobia and PASphobia in the MCA and Gerakan.
We need to understand that the essential need for our country's survival and progress is a politically viable formula, grounded on mutual trust and respect, with compromise and cooperation based on common universal moral, social and ethical values.
There is a place for accomodation of common values, a need for adoption of a common political platform, a willingness to assimilate and integrate the good values and practices of each other, and the vision and mission too accelerate our country into a righteous, just, fair, equal, peaceful, harmonous, and prosperous nation, without the considerations of colour, creed, culture, and class.
The PAS stand on gambling is not something to be polticized, but something to be honestly, objectively and critically evaluated and reflected on, because our children's future is at stake. It doesn't mean that since gambling is legal, it must be morally right. The ISA is legal, but is morally evil and oppressive.
MySinchew 2011-03-07”
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