PUTRAJAYA: Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution (pic) is standing by his statement that illegal online gambling syndicates are getting political patronage, saying he had been briefed by the police on the matter.
“I would not have responded affirmatively if I had not been given convincing and clear information on the matter,” he said.
“That was why when I was asked if there is (political patronage), I said yes, there is.”
On Thursday, Saifuddin told the Dewan Rakyat that illegal online gambling syndicates were receiving protection from certain politicians, which made it difficult to eradicate the issue.
“I can confirm that there are elements of political patronage for online gambling (syndicates),” he said, adding that this was the biggest challenge faced by his ministry, the police and the government.
The political patronage, he said, had affected the efficiency of the police force.
Saifuddin said he had talked to the police before he was questioned in Parliament but declined to reveal more on the issue.
“Let us give space to the police to organise their strategy,” he said.
