"Moral, social failure" - PAS MP Says 'Desperate' M'sians are Flocking to Buy Lottery Tickets Due to Economic Hardship

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PAS Information Chief and Member of Parliament (MP) for Pasir Mas, Ahmad Fadhli Shaari, has labelled the net profit recently posted by an operator of lottery games in Malaysia as a “concerning social and moral failure”.

He added that the rising popularity of lottery games in Malaysia is not a benchmark of a prosperous economy, but rather a signal that Malaysians are now desperate for a windfall gain due to the rising costs.

Pasir Mas MP says Malaysians flocking to buy lottery tickets is a sign of desperation due to economic hardship

Ahmad Fadhli was quoted by the political party’s mouthpiece, Harakah Daily, as saying that the lottery games operator recently posted a net profit of RM105.6 million for the third quarter, which is an increase of 54.3%.

He added that the company’s gross revenue of RM1.9 billion should raise the alarm bells of policymakers and civil society.

The Pasir Mas MP asserted,

“In an economic climate under the cloud of global uncertainty, pressures of inflation and the people’s dwindling purchasing power, the fact that gambling companies can post revenues of RM1.9 billion in just one quarter is not good news.

“On the contrary, it’s a sign of social and moral failure that needs to be taken seriously,”

Ahmad Fadhli further asserted that various academic studies found that a society’s increased participation in gambling activities is usually due to economic and financial pressure.

Quoting a couple of studies, namely “Casinos, Crime and Community Costs” by Grinols and Mustard (2006) and “The Social Costs of Gambling: An Economic Perspective” by Walker and Barnett (1999), the PAS Information Chief opined that gambling is not a leisure activity but a sign of despair.

He elaborated,

Ahmad Fadhli thus believed that Malaysians who flock to buy lottery tickets are willing to sacrifice morality, values and finance for the empty dream of a jackpot.

He stressed,

So, what do you guys think of the Pasir Mas MP’s statement? Share your thoughts with us in the comments. 

Also read: “You can’t turn people in for fun” – PAS Says They Will Only Hand Over Person Behind Flag Error If Police Ask