Berjaya Corporation chairman and chief executive officer Tan Sri Vincent Tan today lashed out at his detractors, saying the negative reaction to the re-issue of the sports betting licence to Ascot Sports is "all about politics".
Tan told a press conference there are "loud voices from the minority...against sports betting" but he is "totally convinced it is all about politics."
All the three Pakatan Rakyat-ruled states of Selangor, Penang and Kedah have banned sports betting, saying they will revoke the premises licence of betting outlets that collect sports bets.
Tan said he will be making a formal appeal to the state governments of Selangor, Penang and Kedah to reconsider the decision to ban sports betting.
"I will make three appeals to them and if those fail, I will consider other options," he said. He did not reveal these options.
He questioned the decision to ban sports betting in these states. "It is as if they are saying do not let the legal bookies thrive, but let the illegal bookies thrive," he said.
"They (the state leaders) are sensible and fair-minded people. Hopefully, they will open their eyes and conscience to what we say to them and retract their decision."
Tan said these politicians should understand that the legalising sports betting will curb crime associated with illegal bookies and Ah Longs, as it is the money-lending by loan sharks to fuel gambling that have got people in trouble.
He said illegal bookies encourage punters to bet more than they can afford and on credit, which puts them at risk of borrowing money from the Ah Longs.
"I do not understand why these politicians, who are very smart people; Oxford graduates and so on; do not understand that illegal bookies do business on credit basis which puts the punters in a lot of trouble," Tan added.
He said Ascot Sports however operate on a cash basis and "definitely do not offer credit".
He said the sports betting industry can provide much needed tax revenue which he estimated to be RM1 billion to 3 billion per annum for the government and it was a waste to not do so.
Tan also criticised certain quarters from civil society has made "wild and unsubstantiated allegations" about him.
"One particular person, who is a wanted fugitive, claimed that some government officials and political parties have benefited from the licence being re-issued to Ascot Sport Sdn Bhd," he said.
"None of this is true," he added.
Tan also alluded to the criticism from certain Muslim groups, questioning the validity of their arguments.
"Some of them who are against the re-issuance sports betting licence cannot even bet," he said, adding that the licence conditions are strict and outlets that can collect bets are limited to only 220. Outlets cannot also operate in Muslim-majority areas.
He said 75% of bets will come from telephone betting, while the rest will be through the outlets.
Tan said the system for bets collection will not be ready in time for the Fifa World Cup season which starts on June 11, as the licence re-issue came late.
He expects the system to be ready for operations in September.
The government's decision to re-issue the sports betting licence, which was first issued in 1987, was met with heavy criticism from various quarters, most fervently from the Opposition coalition.
Ascot Sports used the licence until 1990 and voluntarily returned it as sports betting did not take off. It was re-issued the licence in 2003 but was suspended less than a year later before operations started. The company had successfully negotiated with the government, so that it would be given the first right of refusal should the licence be re-issued.
According to media reports, Selangor, Penang and Kedah governments had moved to ban sports betting in the states for fear betting on sports would encourage gambling. It is however well-known that internet sports betting was rife, despite frequent police raids.
Muslims, who make up 60% of the Malaysian population, are prohibited from gambling.
