KUALA LUMPUR, June 21: Wangsa Maju member of parliament Wee Chee Keong's statement that Pakatan Rakyat was hypocritical in their opposition against gambling has raised eyebrows from several PAS MPs for his "stupidity" and "ignorance".

Wee (pic), who has openly supported the government's legalisation of sports gambling, had stated in parliament that Kelantan under PAS had been allowing sales of liquor, and as such it was hypocritical for PAS and other opposition parties to oppose the government's decision to legalise gambling.

Baling MP Taib Azzamuddin Mohd Taib said Wee should do some homework before exposing his "stupidity".

Taib said in Islamic jurisprudence, gambling and booze are treated as two different levels of prohibition.

The former National Mosque imam explained that while all religions prohibit gambling, not all prohibit liquor for their followers.

As such, Taib said the Kelantan government was bound by Islam's concept of justice to allow liquor consumption and sale for non-Muslims.

"He (Wee) thinks that if he keeps quiet, he would be called stupid. Then again, when he broke his silence, it becomes clear he is stupid," said Taib.

PAS vice president and Kubang Kerian MP Salahudin Ayub, meanwhile, said Wee's example of Kelantan's liquor sale was off the mark.

"The example he has given is wrong. He should go back and do some homework on other religions," said Salahudin.

Jerai MP Mohd Firdaus Jaafar said only the religion as understood by UMNO would agree to gambling.

"But Islam, Christianity, Hinduism, Buddhism and other religions in Malaysia all prohibit gambling," he added.

He said by allowing the sale of liquor in Kelantan, the state does not deny the non-Muslims' rights.

"The (issue) of liquor is like pork. Muslims are prohibited from consuming pork and alcohol, but the Kelantan government cannot stop non-Muslims from consuming them.

"This is because Islam is a religion of justice and the Islamic justice does not prevent people of other faiths from exercising their rights," said Firdaus, adding that Muslims who consume alcohol would still be penalised under Shariah.

He also called on the parliament's Rights and Privileges Committee to summon Wee over his statement which he said had confused the Dewan Rakyat.

Tumpat MP Kamaruddin Jaffar said by issuing license for gambling, there seemed to be an absence of key performance index (KPI).

"In the issue of gambling, it seems Najib (Razak) does not give two hoots about religious and social sensitivities," he said.

Meanwhile, when confronted by Harakahdaily at the parliament later, Wee refused to entertain any question.

"I'm going to take medicine," he was heard saying.