PAS has indirectly implicated the Madani government of being instrumental in raising frequency of special gambling draws from eight to 22 times in 2022 by blaming the entire approval process on the then finance minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz and the treasury’s machinery.
This is given that Tengku Zafrul who helmed MOF in the aftermath of the Sheraton Move under the deemed ‘backdoor’ Perikatan Nasional (PN) and later Barisan Nasional (BN) administrations between March 2020 to December 2022 is now a senior political advisor to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
Recall that Tengku Zafrul who had to relinquish his investment, trade and industry minister (MITI) portfolio on Dec 2 last year at the expiry of his senate term is on a two-year appointment as PMX’s senior aide to fill the vacancy for the latter’s advisory team.
Moreover, Tengku Zafrul officially ‘jumped ship’ to PKR which is a key component of the ruling Pakatan Harapan (PH) in July 2025 after having resigned from UMNO on May 30 last year.
According to Kelantan PAS Youth chief Mohd Firdaus Mohamed Nawi, records showed that the frequency of special draws was reduced from 22 times a year to 11 times in 2019 and eight times in 2020 after PH took over the Federal government in May 2018.
All-out rejection by PAS
However, the draw frequency was again raised to 22 times through a Dewan Rakyat confirmation on Sept 20, 2021 that it was through approval given by MOF.
“Tengku Zafrul who was the then finance minister approved the application by number forecast operators (NFOs) to hold 22 special draws that year,” Firdaus was cited as saying by PAS mouthpiece HarakahDaily on Monday (Aug 31.
“PAS did not support the increase (in draw frequency) but rather opposed it in Parliament and outside Parliament since 2021.”
Firdaus went on to put on record that PAS lawmaker Fadhli Shaari had on Sept 28, 2021 opposed the hike in special draw frequency from eight to 22 times during the Dewan Rakyat session.
“Regardless of the argument, the number of special draws pertaining to gambling shouldn’t be allowed,” he asserted while adding that Fadhli who is currently the Islamist party’s information chief had once again raised the matter when debating the 2022 Budget on Nov 1, 2021 by urging the special draw frequency to be reduced.
Additionally, PAS Central Committee member and then Bachok MP Nik Abduh Nik Abdul Aziz also criticised the MOF’s approval and praised previous measures to reduce frequency of draws.
According to Firdaus, the special draw issue should not be confused with the stance of the Kedah state government under Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor which insisted of not issuing or renewing gambling premises licenses.
“Based on judicial records, the decision was made in 2022 and resulted in the existing license not being renewed after its expiration,” he contended.
However, the Kedah state government’s decision was later challenged by he NFOs in court with the latest development in August 2026 being the Federal Court rejected the state government’s application for permission to continue the appeal.
Therefore, criticism of Sanusi or the Kedah state government’s policies should be debated based on legal issues, jurisdiction and policy as opposed to “alerting historical records”.
“Don’t take the number 22 and throw it out of context. Don’t transfer the MOF’s decision to PAS and don’t erase the objections of Ahmad Fadhli and Nik Abduh,” added Firdaus. – Sept 2, 2026
Main image credit: Bernama
