PAS leaders have no business to invoke religions other than Islam to justify the move against gambling and alcohol sales and consumption in Kedah, P. Ramasamy said today.

The Penang deputy chief minister said while the Islamist party can talk about restrictions on Muslims despite “its shallow high ground on religious morality”, it however should restrain from speaking on behalf of the non-Muslims.

“The non-Muslims are fully aware of the wolf in the sheep’s skin. Whether alcohol and gambling are harmful or not, let the non-Muslims decide.

“PAS should back off with its holier-than-thou attitude,” he said in a statement.

The DAP leader also said PAS cannot claim it is the only Muslim voice in the country.

“It cannot expect both Muslims and non-Muslims to understand its distorted reality as to the recent ban on gambling and alcohol,” he said.

The DAP leader said PAS was motivated by politics in its decision on the 4D gambling ban and alcohol sale restriction.

“PAS might invoke the religious morality behind the ban and restrictions but for the party that is struggling to gain a foothold in the Malay-Muslim heartland, politics is everywhere and everything is politics.

“Devoid of politics, the party will probably sink in its own quagmire of ignorance and obscurantism.”

He said this in reference to the justification by PAS leaders on the gaming ban and restriction of alcohol in Kedah.

Ramasamy admitted that the decision was defensible on the grounds that gambling and alcohol are harmful, immaterial of ethnicity or religious affiliation of individuals.

However he said it was wrong for PAS to say that since non-Muslim faiths were against these vices, there was nothing for the non-Muslims to complain about. 

“I am not sure about PAS’ religious stand, but I am sure that non-Muslim faiths are not asking for ban on these vices.

“Non-Muslim faiths might discourage the consumption of alcohol or gambling, but I am not sure that non-Muslim faiths are calling for an outright ban,” said Ramasamy, who is also the chairman of Penang Hindu Endowment Board.

He also challenged PAS leaders to explain the problem of drug addiction, corruption, instances of child molestation and others.

“Despite the laws against these acts, they are widespread.

“Can PAS give a guarantee that once the two items are outlawed, the indulgence and consumption of alcohol will cease one and for all?

“Can PAS guarantee that the sale of alcohol and gambling going underground will not pose far more problems to society in comparison to when they were legalised and regulated?” he asked. – November 17, 2021.