This was because the government had in the past claimed that profits generated from special draws will be channeled towards corporate social responsibility projects, said the DAP’s national organising secretary Anthony Loke and Kluang MP Liew Chin Tong in a joint statement today.

“We call on the government to exercise transparency in revealing exactly where the proceeds of the Special Draws will go to,” the statement read.

Previously, Liew and Loke have urged the government to end the Tuesday special lottery draws, saying that there is a tendency by the lower-income group to spend their disposable income on it.

Since 1999, the Finance Ministry has allowed special draws to be held on certain Tuesdays. The profits become government revenue.

Liew expressed disappointment towards the government’s decision to maintain Tuesday special draws, saying that the government shouldn’t be reliant on such profits.

“Gambling is a practice that will deplete the disposable income of lower-income families.

“Hence, the practice is a burden on ordinary Malaysians. It affects the disposable income of the lower-income group disproportionately, and it is bad for the overall economy.

He said the Malaysian economy is in need of more domestic consumption to sustain fragile growth and the money spent on such draws would be better spent on goods and services.