THE PAS-led Kedah state government’s decision to ban all four-digit gaming outlets and to restrict the sale of alcohol in rural areas is a clear sign of the party trying to win back the support of Malay-Muslim community for the next general election, analysts said.

They said that the Islamist party has decided that it is not going to win the support of non-Malays, and hence is doubling is efforts to win over the Malay voters.

However, they told The Malaysian Insight that such a tactic may only work in Kedah, Kelantan and Terengganu where the majority of the voters are Malays.

In other places, these measures which curb the rights of the non-Muslims will result in PAS losing seats in GE15, they added.

It will also scare off investors from PAS-ruled states, they warned.

Ilham Centre executive director Hisommudin Bakar described Kedah Menteri Besar Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor’s announcement on the gaming outlet ban showed Kedah PAS was not expecting any support from the non-Malays but instead was seeking to strengthen the party’s power among the Malays.

He added that the ban was also an irony as only days earlier, PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang had denounced extremists.

“It is ironic because just a few days ago, Hadi Awang said Perikatan Nasional was formed to prevent the country from being ruled by extremists.

“But now, Kedah MB, who is a PAS member, is trying to become an extremist by closing 4D shops and restricting alcohol sales. Previously he had tried to ban the celebration of Thaipusam.

“What Sanusi is doing is to strengthen the support from the Malays. They do not care about the votes from the non-Muslims,” he said.

Sanusi courted controversy yesterday after announcing that the state will not renew the business licences for 4D gaming outlets, which were issued by local authorities.

He said the decision will take effect from next year, adding that the move will  help tackle the ills resulting from gambling.

He added that those in Kedah who wanted to purchase 4D tickets can go to Penang.

Hisommudin also said Sanusi and PAS are also acting to counter the federal government’s move to allow the Timah whiskey manufacturer to retain its name.

“Following the government’s decision to let Timah use its name, Kedah PAS decided to harp on the issue, knowing that the Malays will not support the idea,” he said.

Scaring off investors

Meanwhile, Dr Oh Ei Sun said the move could reinforce PAS’ religious credentials and galvanise its potential Malay-Muslim supporters to come out to vote.

The senior fellow at the Singapore Institute of International Affairs added the timing of the ban is conveniently coincidental to the Malacca state election.

“Ultimately, the Malacca election will be decided by the voting propensity among the three coalitions by the Malay-Muslim voters.

“Chinese voters are in any way unlikely to vote for either Barisan Nasional or PN, and the four Chinese-majority seats could thus in a sense be discounted from the pertinent political calculations by BN and PN.

“PN must have thought that by imposing the ban in Kedah, it could reinforce its religious credentials. Politically, it reinforces PAS’ religious credentials, making it even more appealing electorally in the Malay-Muslim heartlands,” he said.

He, however, said the move will scare off international investors who may view  the state as being intolerant.

“It paints a uniformly intolerant image of the country that will no doubt make foreign investors think twice about committing investments here.

“Kedah is now an affluent, industrialised state. But of course internationally it will scare away investors as being an intolerant state,” he added.

James Chin of Tasmania University told The Malaysian Insight that Sanusi is  using the entire non-Malay community as his political fodder to portray himself as an Islamic leader.

He added that PAS needs to be seen as a relevant party and not depend too much on Bersatu.

“The motive is to stay in power in GE15. They are not afraid of losing non-Malay votes because they have never gotten any support from them.

“They also need to stand out or be squeezed between Umno and Bersatu. They see their chances of winning big in Kedah, Kelantan and Terengganu.”

Chin added the move has its risks.

“If the Malays in Kedah reject PAS because of this, either PN or BN will then become the government.”

Move won’t solve social ills

Meanwhile, Kedah state assemblyman Tan Kok Yew slammed the decision, urging the state government to retract the idea.

The Derga assemblyperson from DAP pointed out that there is no proof that licensed gambling is the cause of domestic abuse.

He added although there are a few cases linked to gambling, the state should not close down all licensed gambling outlets.

“This will give a negative impact to investors as the federal government says one thing while the state government says another thing.

“We must not forget that the funds from these licensed gambling outlets are used to pay for education and sports and we call that welfare lottery. The funds come from these companies.

“I do not say that gambling is not the cause of domestic abuse but there are also other things that lead to abuse such as e-games,” said Tan during the state legislative sitting this afternoon in Alor Setar.

Tan explained that by closing down licensed gambling outlets, many people will lose their incomes and unemployment will result.

“The closure does not make sense. People will lose their income and become  jobless. There will be more unemployment in the state which could also lead to family abuse or worse, suicide.”

“Let those with their licences carry on with their businesses peacefully,” he stressed. – November 15, 2021.