CAN Genting Highlands which has operated peacefully since 1971 with clear restrictions that its casinos limit entry to non-Muslims (security personnel at entrances ensure visitors meet the entry requirements) stand on its own two feet as purely a touristic/recreational resort for family outing?

The latter seems to be the best outcome for the tourist destination which is instrumental in drawing 1.72 million domestic and international tourists in 1Q 2024 - a 15.17% increase from the same period of last year - if Genting Highlands is stripped off its casino/gambling element.

This comes about as Pahang PAS commissioner Rosli Abdul Jabar clarified that the Islamist opposition party has no intention to close down Genting Highlands but “merely to disallow its gambling activities through existing rules and laws”.

“We wish to emphasise that we never want to close down Genting as the Pahang DAP chairman claimed but merely to stop its gambling activities while enabling Genting to thrive as a tourist destination,” the Tanjung Lumpur state assemblyman pointed out in a Facebook post.

“Gambling is an activity that causes a lot of harm to the people and the harm is chained because gambling causes neglect of the household, divorce, domestic violence, theft, encouraging Ah Long (loan sharks) to offer unlicensed loans and many other social ills.

“Above all else, gambling is also a practice that kills the honour of the country, state, race and family.”

In this regard, Rosli took a jab at Pahang DAP chairman Lee Chin Chen who contended that the closure of gambling-related activities will affect the livelihood of Muslims working in Genting Highlands.

“This matter must be investigated by the enforcement unit of the Pahang Islamic Religion Department as to whether there are Muslims working in the casino or directly exposed in gambling activities,” insisted the Pahang PAS commissioner.

“What’s the problem if they work in Genting but are not involved in gambling activities? They can in fact continue to work there if Genting Highlands remains a tourism destination.”

Rosli further ticked off the Bilut state assemblyman for having gone to the extent of insulting Muslims or make them scapegoats.

“As a people representative, I’m very much against gambling because I have received so many complaints from people who’re victims or suffer bad effects from gambling activities,” he justified.

“As Muslims, we believe that our country, state and economy are better off without gambling. Muslims need to be aware that if they wish to close down gambling dens, they’ve to first unseat DAP.”

The bottom line is that the proposal to shut down Genting is merely a far-fetched dream for PAS to gain political mileage. In all likelihood, it would never materialise.

Recall that if PAS was serious about wiping out gambling, it would have done so during the 33 months the party was in power.

Instead, the Perikatan Nasional (PN) administration - and later the Barisan Nasional (BN)-led government- not only allowed gambling to thrive by permitting extra draws for number forecast operators (NFOs) but was at the forefront to milk tax revenues by the gambling operators. - Sept 19, 2024

https://focusmalaysia.my/what-is-genting-without-its-casino-when-the-touristic-resort-thrives-on-its-gambling-reputation/