It's A Dirty Job; Why Did We Let Them Do It?

In today's news, Interior Minister Datuk Seri Hishamuddin (DSH) urged those who criticized the Government's decision to legalize gambling to come forward with their own suggestions on how to eliminate the vice.

He said (to the effect of), "Rather than raising a ruckus outside, the state governments in question could cooperate with the Ministry by providing suggestions so that the government could make the proper decisions in eliminating this black economy."

Dear DSH,

Is the ministry really devoid of ideas on how to accomplish this that you have to ask from the state governments? Of course, two heads are better than one, and three are better than two, but shouldn't all the potential mechanisms have been worked on at the ministry level? The way DSH is putting things it's as if no thoughts had been spared for this in the first place.

And why the need to abolish only illegal gambling? You might argue that gambling is a culture for the non-Muslims, especially the Chinese in this country. But does that make it right? I have basically lost count of how many times The Star has showcased the plight of families struck by gambling fathers or sons or mother or daughters. Almost without fail, these addicts clean out all the money they have access to, even if the money belongs in part to their spouses. Then they go to the Ah Longs, our infamous interest-hungry sharks, and take out massive loans.

When they do go to the sharks, then without fail, they will lose their money, and they will be hunted down like dogs. The sad part is that the family, who had nothing to do with it, falls victim as well.

Basically, in its ham-fisted efforts to abolish illegal gambling, the Government decided it would be OK to make this sort of thing legal. Families can now suffer with peace of mind, since their gambling family member was in fact participating in Government-approved activities. They'll lose the shirts off their backs and lose the food from their mouths because the Government made it OK.

Is it OK to let this happen to the people you are responsible for? Whatever race you are, whatever religion you are, I do not see how you could answer anything other than "NO".

Something else that bugs me. I fail to understand how Ministers who are Muslims could have let this idea take off the ground in the first place. Don't you know that gambling is Haram (Not Permissible, in case you've forgotten) in Islam? Or did you just not care?

Governing is a huge responsibility. It demands that governors deal with unpleasant issues and, with sights set on the long term, get to the bottom of it even if it means being unpopular. It's a dirty job, and you have to really strong.

So why do we get people who are really bad at it?