Prime minister Anwar Ibrahim has hinted that gambling companies may have funded Perikatan Nasional’s (PN) campaign during GE15.
Gambling companies behind PN’s funds?
During a press conference at the Prime Minister’s Office in Putrajaya yesterday, Anwar said that “Malay” and “Islamic” parties obtained election funds from gambling companies.
On the issue of gambling, certainly this is partly used to finance elections. (I have asked for) checks on that.
“Whether you call yourself a Malay party or Islamic party, notwithstanding, the (election) funds came from gaming companies,” he said as quoted by Malaysiakini.
Special draws reduced
On a separate matter, Anwar announced that “special draws” for 4D numbers will be reduced to only eight per year.
This is a huge reduction from the previous figure of 22, which was implemented by the previous government led by Bersatu and PAS.
PN: ‘Show us proof’
Unsurprisingly, PN leaders went up in arms over Anwar’s claim and demanded that he produce proof for the allegation.
In a statement released by PAS secretary-general Takiyuddin Hassan, he called Anwar’s allegation “unfounded” and challenged him to prove it.
He also threatened to carry out legal action against him.
Backing Takiyuddin up was Bersatu Youth information chief Mohd Ashraf Mustaqim Badrul Munir, who accused Anwar of abusing his position to carry out a smear campaign against political opponents.
“For the first time, we saw a prime minister playing political sentiment without providing anything to justify his claims and abusing an official government platform at the Prime Minister’s Office, which should have been a place to discuss issues about the rakyat.
“He better come up with proof in black and white, instead of simply saying stuff like they are not in the government,” he wrote in a statement.
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