PUTRAJAYA, June 22 -- Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail in an exclusive media editor session with the Home Minister at the Home Ministry Complex here yesterday. --fotoBERNAMA (2023) COPYRIGHT RESERVED
PUTRAJAYA: The police and anti-graft authorities have the discretion to reveal the identities of politicians providing patronage to illegal online gambling syndicates, says Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail (pic).
The Home Minister said he would leave the matter to the wisdom of the police and Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission.
“They know better. I don’t want people to accuse the minister of interfering (in this case) to bring down his political opponents. Let the authorities do their job and do what is necessary,” he said in a session with the media.
On June 15, Saifuddin, in response to a question in the Dewan Rakyat revealed there was an element of political patronage in online gambling activities in the country, describing it as the “biggest obstacle” for his ministry.
It was reported that both police and the MACC had received information in connection with claims of political patronage over illegal online gambling.
The two enforcement bodies are exchanging information and intelligence on the matter.
Saifuddin Nasution said police faced obstacles in stumping out these illegal activities due to leakage of information.
“Let’s say the premises (gambling operations) they are targeting are in Kuantan and the team from Bukit Aman is doing the raid.
“But when they reach Bentong, they were informed that the premises had been emptied,” he explained.
The minister said authorities need more legal muscles to curb illegal online gambling activities, pointing out the current laws, which were 70 years old, were meant to act on activities such as cockfighting.
He said offences related to these activities were not covered under the Common Gaming Houses Act 1953 and the Betting Act 1953.
“This must be looked into as illegal online gambling is a multibillion ringgit industry,” Saifuddin Nasution said.
The minister also said that blogger Raja Petra Kamarudin should submit an application and get the necessary travel documents so that he could return to Malaysia.
“Don’t play victim and claim that the government doesn’t allow him to come back to Malaysia.
“If he truly misses the country, then go through the proper channel and deal with the right people.
“In fact, he can contact me and I will look into his application,” he said.
Raja Petra had claimed that the government did not allow him to return to Malaysia.
In a video posting, he claimed that several negotiations had taken place since 2013 with leaders and authorities on the possibility of him returning.
The blogger claimed to have met with Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi during Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s administration.
He also alleged to have met with two other Cabinet members and officers from Bukit Aman.
