PAS’ position on gambling has come under fresh scrutiny after Kedah Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor said the party does not need to include its opposition to gambling in its election manifesto.
Sanusi said the position was already part of PAS’ political struggle and reflected in the party’s constitution, which calls for the implementation of Islamic values and laws in government.
He said this included laws prohibiting gambling premises and regulating the sale of alcohol.
The remarks come amid debate over the federal government’s role in regulating gambling and questions over what PAS would do if it eventually secured federal power.
Sanusi said PAS’ opposition to gambling was consistent with Islamic principles and therefore did not need to be stated separately in its manifesto.
But his position has also revived a challenge raised by Perlis Mufti Datuk Dr Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin, better known as Dr MAZA, during a lecture last week.
Dr MAZA had questioned whether political parties calling for a complete ban on gambling and alcohol for non-Muslims would be prepared to state that position openly in their election manifesto.
“If you want to govern Malaysia, put it in your manifesto. Say that if we govern, we will not allow alcohol and gambling for non-Muslims in this country. Do you think they would dare put that in their manifesto?” he said.
Dr MAZA also cautioned against turning gambling into a political issue without considering the responsibilities and limits of governing a country with a diverse population.
Sanusi’s response now leaves PAS facing the same question raised by the mufti: if opposition to gambling is an established party policy, why not spell it out in the manifesto?
For a party seeking to play a bigger role at the federal level, the question is no longer simply where it stands on gambling, but how that position would be translated into government policy.
A manifesto commitment would give voters a clearer indication of what PAS intends to do should it be given the mandate to govern. – September 5, 2026
