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The Bukit Tinggi casino: The spin begins but can it last?

THIS NAIVE BELIEF THAT IF THE MANTRA - Bukit Tinggi casino is not a casino - is repeated endlessly by three people like the Muslim "sembayang hajat" prayer, it would not be. The Prime Minister, Dato' Seri Mahathir Mohamed said it yesterday. And shortly after by the Pahang mentri besar, Dato' Seri Adnan Yaakub, and the super-crony Tan Sri Vincent Tan-owned Bukit Tinggi casino's general manager, Teh Ming Wah. Now that the Great Man has spoken, we are told, it is not a casino. The only problem is that, unlike a sembayang hajat, when tens of thousands will pray for a stated goal in unision for days on end, this casino mantra is repeated by only this trio. This could have worked once, but not now. The injured innocence with which this mantra is repeated says it all: "It is unfortunate that certain parties have misconstrued and sought to politicise the matter, leading to allegations to the media with little regard to factual accuracy" and "Dr Mahathir has made such a clear statement on the matter".

The Bukit Tinggi casino licence is revoked. But this does not faze the super-crony. His casino manager assumes that this can be easily rectified. And would clarify with the Finance Minister how it can continue to operate. This idea that the Finance Minister has revoked the licence has not sunk in. No club is given 250 one-armed bandits. At most they get 20 or so. When such a large number was allowed, that it was only for club members is moot. There is no doubt the Bukit Tinggi resort revealed to gaming centres around the world was as a casino. As for the slot machines, Tengku Adnan Mansor told the Prime Minister the slot machines are old-fashioned. The new electronic marvels can replicate a casino. Otherwise, how does Tan Sri Vincent explain his huge expense for a social club with gambling restricted to non-Muslim members? Even with day membership at the gate.

When his own casino officials revealed a billion ringgit plan to build hotels and other facilities to attract gamblers from all over the world, it was for a casino, not for a gaming club with slot machines. No one in his right mind would come from Timbuktoo or Sydney to play the slot machines at Bukit Tinggi when the more established Genting Highlands casino is nearby. If Tan Sri Vincent's Bukit Tinggi resort was to survive, it had to have a casino. He is nearly RM300 million in debt on it. In interviews casino officials had had with journalists for Malaysia and elsewhere, before the shoe fell, there was no doubt what they run was not a gaming club but a casino. Now they take the other extreme: stonewall all queries.

Tan Sri Vincent believes no doubt Dr Mahathir would not let him down, and he would, in due course, be allowed to run the casino. But he would have to sort it out before the Prime Minister retires. The Prime Minister-to-be, Dato' Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, is embarrassed: it appears he did not know anything about it. It does not excuse him, but he would not be well-disposed towards it now under any circumstance. Nor would PAS let go. The licences were given in stealth. We are told we must accept it at face value. If the gaming licence is for slot machines, it cannot be for any thing else. Would cronies ever break the law? Especially when no one supervises him? God forbid! But cronies expect the government to handle the political fallout. Whatever else the investment mut never be touched. In good times past, the crony would sue you at the drop of a hat. Especially if it is Tan Sri Vincent Tan. But he overplayed his hand. If he wanted the casino so badly, he should have waited until after the general elections next year. It would not then be the political hot potato it now is. He could wait to get his hands on the goodies, and spoilt his chance for wealth beyond greed. He will not get another chance.

When Dr Mahathir proudly insists Malaysia is an Islamic state, and confronts that issue not religiously but politically, this issue of gaming licences inherently is political. And it would be stupid of any political party, certainly not PAS, to let go of it. So, the casino manager is right: The matter is politicised. When gaming liceces are issued in stealth, as this certainly is, and the government is embarassed when it is known, and cannot explain why, what happens is, as the casino manager coyly insists, factual inaccuracy. Worse, the mentri besar, Dato' Seri Adnan Yaakub, lies about it. The state government has a sizeable interest in the resort. So a cabinet minister close to both Dr Mahathir and Tan Sri Vincent. Would the Bukit Tinggi resort come clean on its shareholdings. And reveal at a press conference on its plans for this slot machine venture whose licence is now revoked. That would cut out much of the haze about it. The cards would then be laid on the table. Tengku Adnan Mansor, the cabinet minister with a sizeable interest in the Bukit Tinggi resort should be on hand to explain the government's position. No one else can, or would. If Tan Sri Vincent Tan himself takes the floor, then perhaps even Dr Mahathir could be persuaded to come. But can they?

PAS makes heavy inroads into Pahang. This casino in Bukit Tinggi gave it a potentially useful issue which puts UMNO and BN in a fix. In 1999, the PAS gains were not in seats, it got only six in the state assembly, but in narrowing the majorities in the Malay constituences in several states so sharply that a slight shift would swing the pendulum its way. When the constituencies were redrawn, the Elections Commission ensured the new constituencies were gerrymandered in the BN's favour. After all, its chairman must return a prime ministerial favour which saved a school he had in Langkawi. He sold his soul. He would tell the worshippers at his mosque how close he is to Dr Mahathir and how he could see him any time he wants. This annoyed the worshippers that they threw him out as chairman of the mosque committee. The government was unhappy with him at one time because he leaned towards PAS. He has been, as spy agencies put it, turned. But even with the newly redrawm constituencies, PAS expects to deny the BN its two-thirds majority in Pahang. With this casino affair, it could well get more than that. But only if it does not let the ball out of its hands.

It is a potent issue in Pahang, if not in the country, at election time. However much the casino manager resents it. it is a political issue. Tan Sri Vincent can make all the representations he wants, but the Bukit Tinggi casino licence, by whatever name, is history. I do not think the BN and UMNO want another scrap with PAS on an issue it cannot defend. When all is said and done, Tan Sri Vincent's greed or pressure from his bankers stopped him. It was naive of him to assume it would not be a political issue. Gambling always is. In every country in the world. In every religion. In every community. When it is abhorred on religious grounds, as it is here, all the more so. Perhaps what Tan Sri Vincent needs is not a good lawyer but a good political expert - not the Tengku Adnan variety but some one more solid and focussed on his trade and not the wealth he can expect from him. He cannot make silk purses out of sows' ears. Advising him so is akin to casting pearls before swine.

M.G.G. Pillai
pillai@mgg.pc.my