Football betting: Let's make a quick final decision, and move on.{Episode 2}

I wish to refer to the report Rais, allow Sports Betting wherein the Honourable Minister justified the legalisation of Sports Betting by saying that the Govt should recognize the rights of the Chinese and non Muslims! I find this reason to be very frivolous, and I feel that the Hon Minister is assuming that the rakyat are somewhat naive. We ought to answer the doubts regarding the issue of this licence seriously, and in this respect, it would clear the air and enlighten the public, if the Govt could answer accurately the following issues relevant to the discussion:

• If the Sports Betting Licence is eventually issued, will the public be allowed to bet on any Sports events in Malaysia too, or will the licence be restricted to betting on those Sports events Outside the country?

Will the Legal Sports Betting Operator be able to entice the public from betting illegally? That is, will the legal Operator be able to provide the same "conditions" for the growth of legal sports betting? The illegal bookies can provide 'credit' themselves or through 'Ah Longs", cash payments on the spot, bets using the laptop, mobile phones and even by word of mouth.

When the sports betting business is legalised, can the illegal sports betting business be stamped out? We all know that in spite of having 3 numbers forecast operators in the country, we still find the illegal 4D business thriving.
• Whether Sports betting is made legal or not, people will still BORROW to bet on games, especially on football, and also all the other Sports events, which will be a year round affair. How can legal betting stamp out the wicked activities of loan sharks, and the disastrous effects it has on the social network of our country.
Will the Police have the time and resource to continuously monitor and harass the illegal operations, like what they are doing at the moment?

Will the Government, most importantly, be able to block and prevent global internet sites from offering all sorts of Sports Betting to Malaysians?

I am not for or against the legalisation of Sports Betting in the country, but let us do it with a clear mind.Using all sorts of flimsy reasons to "soften the ground" for the launching of legal sports betting is wasting everybody's time and it is getting tiresome. If there are good reasons to do it, then just do it, if not, let's also be firm. We have so many other important things to do to bring a better life to our citizens, like improving the economy, eliminating corruption, and reducing racial polarization. Giving out silly reasons for a sports betting licence to be issued will only discredit the Govt further, and distract it from more important matters of the Nation.