A Divisive Call: Halal and non-halal revenue

Regarding the call by MCA that tax revenue from legalised betting sources be channeled to a separate fund Separate account needed for non halal revenue.. and the statement that the Finance Ministry is looking into it, I would like to suggest that the Govt think this out seriously before rushing into it, and then waste everybody's time backtracking, when the suggestion is found to be impractical, and may be even a divisive step towards nation building.

If we read the Call by MCA correctly, it was only in relation to its support for legalised sports betting, which now the Govt has seen its disadvantages more than its purported merits. The Government will need to consider the following issues before even putting up the idea to the Cabinet:

• Do we need a change in the Federal Constitution before Federal revenue can be classified as halal and non-halal?
• Though the suggestion to create a separate Fund was meant to address the Sports Betting revenue (which is now moot), need the Govt also consider that ALL revenue derived from ANY gambling source be channeled to this separate Fund, only to be used for "among others to educate people not to gamble"
• If the Government sees fit to classify the Consolidated fund as halal and non-halal, would it not bring to mind all other revenue from non-halal sources? That brings into questions other sources of revenue derived from sources that CAN be classified as non halal, e.g.,
  
• hotels selling alcoholic beverages
• Restaurants selling non halal food and/or alcoholic beverages
• sources that derive income doing business with non halal sources, e.g. supplying paper and computers to Toto or Magnum?
• sources with revenue derived from illegal activities, like pirated CDs, fake cigarettes, etc
• revenue generated by the Govt from the disposal of confiscated alcoholic beverages, illegally imported non halal meat, and other sources of confiscated non halal materials.
• If the non halal revenue is restricted for use for certain purposes, it will certainly give rise to calls by intolerant members that Muslims cannot utilize such revenue, for religious and moral reasons. In the long run, this will not augur well for the nation, which is facing deep divisive issues even just discussing the NEP.
  

These are some of the preliminary questions that will be raised and will need detailed analysis of the political repercussions of making such a move. In the midst of the Government trying to build a United and Inclusive nation, based on mutual respect and tolerance, will not the effort to "divide" revenue into halal and non-halal at this stage provide further reasons for altercations later on, based on the known 'political immaturity' of most of our politicians.

Think about it