© Provided by Sinar Daily Picture for illustrative purposes – FILE PIX
SHAH ALAM – Last week Sinar had reported a revelation by Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution, who had said that online gambling platforms and operators are being protected by political patronage.
Saifuddin was reported as saying that the scenario became a stumbling block for law enforcement, namely the Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM), the Ministry of Home Affairs (KDN), and the government in its efforts to curb and combat online gambling crimes
It is understood that there is a ‘win win’ situation between the operators of the online gambling platforms and the political patrons, where the protection makes it difficult for authorities to take action against these gambling activities.
For the protection, the ‘reward’ will be paid later, in which this situation triggers other crimes such as corruption, money laundering crimes and other related crimes.
Saifuddin had called for the Open Gambling Act 1953 and the Betting Act 1953 to be amended so that operators who are detected can be brought to justice.
Saifuddin said the two acts are no longer appropriate for current times and outdated as these crimes are now more sophisticated than ‘cockfighting’.
In fact, in court cases involving online gambling platform operators is easier to be dropped as the existing act is no longer relevant.
Saifuddin was quoted as saying that it was simply a matter of ‘If the opponent is in court, they can win’
“For this period, the government was only able to implement some restrictions against online gambling operators involving more than 2,100 websites from 2021 until last May,” he had said.
Understandably, there are thousands of other online gambling activities that are still active out there.
With the existing act, online gambling activities are difficult to contain and has spread to all mediums.
It is also very accessible to all groups of people regardless of age.
The key now is that both acts must be amended immediately so that there are no more online gambling activities that are protected by ‘political masters’.