20 NGOs submit memo protesting Raya gambling ad to Zahidi 22 Apr 2021 / 16:56 H. Bernama
KUALA LUMPUR: A group of 20 non-governmental organisations (NGOs) today submitted a memorandum protesting against Hari Raya-themed online gambling advertisements to Deputy Communications and Multimedia Minister Datuk Zahidi Zainul Abidin.
The memorandum, which asks the government to take action against operators of illegal gambling, was handed over by Malaysian Muslim Consumers’ Association (PPIM) chief activist Datuk Nadzim Johan to Zahidi in his office at Angkasapuri here.
Zahidi said it was not easy to eradicate online gambling because the activity involved the use of international applications.
“Online gambling cannot be wiped out just like that because in our country whenever gambling and pornographic apps were erased, they would surface again,” he told reporters.
February 07, 2021
Shoppers at a market in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
File photo: Reuters
For Syahiirah Junaidi, a Kuala Lumpur resident, the recent halal meat scandal in Malaysia is beyond her control.
The country was in December rocked by reports that a cartel had for decades been allegedly bribing officials to import and sell Muslims non-certified meat, including horse and kangaroo when the meat was neither ritually slaughtered according to Islamic custom nor derived from approved sources.
While Syahiirah says she cannot do much but continue to take the word of supermarkets that pledge their meat is halal, or permissible, she knows older residents would not be as forgiving.