KUCHING: Sarawak Police Commissioner, Datuk Mohamad Zainal Abdullah, has pledged to personally lead raids on any premises confirmed to be operating as actual gambling outlets, instead of merely selling online gambling top-ups.
He said many public complaints arise from the misconception that top-up outlets are functioning as gambling dens, when most no longer host on-site activities.
“If you tell me that there are a lot of gambling outlets not being raided, tell me and I will raid them myself. I will go down personally.
“However, most of the premises now only sell gambling top-ups, which can even be done straight from their phones. People don’t even gamble there anymore.
“But if they do gamble at the premises, we will raid them,” he said when met by reporters at the Sarawak Contingent Police Headquarters (IPK) this morning.
Zainal shared that current trends show illegal gambling has shifted away from physical premises to fully online platforms, reducing the number of physical locations where people gather to gamble.
“This trend is the reason police are placing more focus on blocking online websites and systems, rather than raiding premises that do not host gambling activities.
“Our concern is the illegal operators who are using online websites and systems. If we block them, their users cannot gamble anymore,” he said.
He gave assurance that enforcement will continue wherever physical gambling activities are confirmed.
