© Provided by Free Malaysia Today Home minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said online syndicates earn up to RM250 million per week and they keep their profits in the form of cryptocurrencies. (Bernama pic)

SUNGAI PETANI: Home minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail says it is up to the police and the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission to reveal the political patrons involved in illegal online gambling syndicates.

“They will decide based on their professional assessment. I do not want to interfere in that matter,” he told reporters.

Saifuddin said he did not discount the possibility that the political patrons are receiving kickbacks from the online gambling syndicates in the form of political donations.

He also said these online syndicates are earning up to RM250 million per week and that they keep their profits in the form of cryptocurrencies.

He called upon the police to be a “few steps ahead” with their data analytics work on these syndicates.

On Thursday, Saifuddin told the Dewan Rakyat that online gambling syndicates were backed by political patrons who would protect the syndicates from legal action, and they would then “reciprocate”.

The following day, Inspector-General of Police Acryl Sani Abdullah Sani said that both the police and MACC are jointly probing the matter, with information being shared among themselves for further investigation.

Rulers closely follow 3R issues

Saifuddin also said the rulers were closely monitoring issues related to 3R (race, religion and royalty).

He said he would be asked about the trend of 3R issues whenever he briefed the rulers on ministry matters.

Saifuddin said the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 and Sedition Act 1948 were used to deal with 3R issues, although he acknowledged that the latter law is “quite controversial”.

“Two days ago, when Penang police took action, they were criticised for stifling free speech,” he said.

“But if we don’t act, (the public will ask us) why the police are not taking action or why they are only acting after the damage is done.”

He was referring to an incident where a woman was arrested in the state for allegedly posting offensive remarks against the King regarding the conferment of the “Tan Sri” title on DAP veteran Lim Kit Siang.

Separately, Saifuddin also urged NGOs that specialise in community safety to apply for funding through the Registrar of Societies’ online system (e-ROSES), where eligible organisations could get RM10,000 in grants.