MSIAN MINISTER PROPOSES SPECIAL COMMISSION TO MONITOR LICENSED GAMING

KUALA LUMPUR, June 23 (Bernama) -- Information Communication and Culture
Dr Rais Yatim has proposed the formation of a commission to monitor and control
licensed gambling in the country.
He said the commission could help the government regulate and reduce
illegal gambling activities with bets reported to be worth RM10 billion (US$3
billion) a year.
"If the gaming licence can be implemented correctly according to
certain rules, we will be able to curb illegal gambling," he told reporters
after receiving the Indonesian Journalists Association, West Sumatra delegation
here Wednesday.
He said allowing sports betting was not something new compared to horse
racing and lotteries.
"It should be regulated... it should not have discrimination. We need to be
objective and identify the social rights of non-Muslims in the country," he
said.
He said tax revenue from sports betting would enable the government to help
non-Muslims.
On the Indonesian Journalists Association's visit, Rais said the
ministry proposed the Association of Malaysian and Indonesian Journalists
(Iswami) to be registered in both countries.
"With the registration, we can plan more concrete programmes," he said.
Rais also proposed Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka (DBP) and Pustaka Indonesia to
revive the role of the Bahasa Melayu-Bahasa Indonesia Terminology Committee to
streamline Malay terminologies used by both countries.
"Let us enter a more beautiful and productive stage. If 300 million people
speak in one language, I think there will be thunder in the sky.
"We should not lose out to French and Russian as we have more users. These
are my views for future generations," he said.
-- BERNAMA