PAS approves motions on 'corporate mafia' RCI, more gambling regulation for states

PAS MUKTAMAR | The 72nd PAS muktamar has approved seven motions, including calls for a royal commission of inquiry to probe allegations about the “corporate mafia” and renewed efforts to curb gambling.

The Islamist party’s annual meeting received 33 motions from its delegates, 26 of which were referred to relevant committees.

From the accepted motions, four were debated before approval, while the remaining three were approved without debate. 

One of the motions debated was submitted by PAS Youth, which urged the government to form an RCI to independently and comprehensively investigate allegations of the existence of a  “corporate mafia”.

According to the motion paper, the PAS muktamar is pressing for the RCI’s findings and recommendations to be tabled in Parliament.

‘No sweeping corporate mafia under carpet’

In tabling the motion, PAS Youth delegate Nazrul Hakim Nazir drew parallels with the Tabung Haji RCI, saying: “If integrity is demanded of one institution, then that same integrity must be demanded of all parties.”

As such, he stressed that if the “corporate mafia” exists, it should be considered an issue affecting the integrity of national institutions and economic security.

“This issue cannot be swept under the carpet, kept away, and silenced. We do not want to punish anyone before guilt is proven, but we cannot allow anyone to become so powerful that they cannot be investigated either,” he said.

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He said that if the allegations are proven untrue, an RCI probe will clear the names of those accused.

“But, if these allegations are true, the people have the right to know who is involved, how deeply this network has taken root in the nation’s administration, and how the rakyat’s interests and the nation’s assets have been affected,” he added.

Previously, several DAP leaders, including its secretary-general Anthony Loke, had also called for an RCI after a February Bloomberg report alleged collusion between a group of businesspersons and senior MACC officials to stage corporate takeovers.

The anti-graft commission, however, has denied the claims.   

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Besides the “corporate mafia” RCI motion, the PAS muktamar today also debated and approved motions on strengthening the ummah unity agenda, reforming working hours and manpower for the healthcare sector, and strengthening the country’s paddy production supply chain.

More room for states to regulate gambling

Meanwhile, the PAS muktamar also approved without debate a motion from Baling PAS on gambling issues, with the motion paper stating the party’s call for Putrajaya, through the Finance Ministry, to re-evaluate the policy on granting and renewing gambling licences.

Besides considering a halt to issuing new licences, PAS also wants state administrations, particularly those under PAS’ governance, to streamline existing laws, local government policies, and administrative mechanisms based on legal advice.

This, it said, will enable action aimed at curbing gambling activities to be carried out on a “solid legal basis”.

PAS also wants its MPs to raise the matter in the Dewan Rakyat so amendments to the relevant legislation can be proposed, and state governments are given legal room to formulate stricter policies on the operation of gambling premises.

An attempt by Kedah, one of the four states under PAS, to ban gambling outlets was foiled after the Court of Appeal held that the regulation of gambling and lotteries falls exclusively under the Finance Ministry.

The Federal Court recently rejected the state government’s leave application to appeal.

The two other motions accepted without debate were an appeal to the government to take comprehensive measures to address the cost of living and to empower the party’s young women’s wing.

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