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Government reduces lottery draws, denies supporting gambling
🇲🇾 Malaysia /Economy & Trade

Government reduces lottery draws, denies supporting gambling

From Utusan Malaysia · () Malay

Translated from Malay and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

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  • Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim stated the government has reduced lottery draws from 22 to eight annually, contrasting with the previous administration.
  • He emphasized the government's focus on entrepreneurship programs to help citizens generate income and reduce reliance on cash aid.
  • The government supports small entrepreneurship programs to help individuals overcome failures and build independent lives.

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has asserted that the federal government does not endorse gambling, highlighting a significant reduction in lottery draws since his administration took office in 2022. The number of annual forecast number draws has been cut from 22 to just eight.

"People say, oh, Anwar supports gambling. I do not support gambling," Anwar stated during the launch of the Madani Entrepreneur Development Scheme (Sub) in Bukit Mertajam. He pointed out that the previous government permitted 22 draws annually, while his administration has decreased this to eight. "You want to scold me for what? When you ruled, it was 22 times. When I rule, I reduced it to eight times," he added.

For the record, the Unity Government, which took power on January 1, 2023, has set the number of special forecast number lottery draws at eight per year, a reduction from the previous 22.

People say, oh, Anwar supports gambling. I do not support gambling. When you ruled, it was 22 times. When I rule, I reduced it to eight times.

— Datuk Seri Anwar IbrahimPrime Minister Anwar Ibrahim addressing the reduction in lottery draws.

Anwar also emphasized the government's commitment to strengthening various entrepreneurship programs aimed at assisting citizens in generating their own income and lessening their dependence on cash aid. Initiatives such as SUB Madani, Amanah Ikhtiar Malaysia (AIM), Tekun Nasional, Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah (STR), and Sumbangan Asas Rahmah (SARA) are provided to support those in need.

He stressed the importance of providing capital and income-generating opportunities for people to build better, self-reliant lives. "The SUB Madani program is to support various other programs. Imagine, we spend RM1 million on Amanah, RM1 million on TEKUN, various loan schemes we provide, then Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah (STR), everyone receives STR, the cash of mercy. I added Sumbangan Asas Rahmah. SARA, although it's RM1 million once to buy basic necessities, perhaps RM2 billion in total, because tens of millions of people receive it. But sometimes, what's more important is to give them capital, give them a business, so they can live their own lives and no longer depend on others," he explained.

But sometimes, what's more important is to give them capital, give them a business, so they can live their own lives and no longer depend on others.

— Datuk Seri Anwar IbrahimPrime Minister Anwar Ibrahim explaining the importance of entrepreneurship support.
About this summary

Originally published by Utusan Malaysia in Malay. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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