KUCHING: Police clarified that the push to block illegal gambling websites and systems is happening now due to rapid technological changes and a surge in public complaints.
Sarawak Police Commissioner, Datuk Mohamad Zainal Abdullah, said online gambling had grown into a widespread and organised digital network, rendering traditional enforcement methods less effective.
“People ask why now. It is not about timing. Previously, the technology was not there.
“Online gambling does not exist like it does today. Now that it does, we can study how the system works. We can interrupt it, disrupt it, or block it,” he said when met at the Sarawak Contingent Police Headquarters (IPK) this morning.
He pointed out that illegal gambling has shifted from physical premises to online platforms, prompting authorities to adjust their strategies.
Blocking such platforms requires cooperation among multiple agencies, with police working alongside federal and state bodies, including the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC), to dismantle the digital infrastructure used by gambling syndicates.
“Perhaps we do not have so much expertise in this matter, so we seek assistance. That’s why cooperation is important because when everyone works together, I don’t think there will be a problem,” he said.
Zainal added that successfully blocking the online systems would cut off access for users and could encourage other states to adopt similar measures.
