KOTA KINABALU: Authorities must act decisively against illegal online gambling operations, and the public must play an active role in reporting such activities, says Sabah PKR information chief Razeef Rakimin.
"Without public reports, these illegal activities may continue unchecked," he said, warning that community silence could enable these operations to thrive, perpetuating unlawful activities without consequence.
Speaking to reporters at the party’s headquarters on Sunday (Nov 24), Razeef commended recent enforcement actions, including cutting off electricity to 17 premises involved in online gambling in Penampang.
Similar measures had been carried out earlier in Tawau.
"These actions highlight the widespread presence of illegal gambling centres, not only in urban areas but also in rural villages. We have even seen these operations infiltrating small shops, roadside stalls, and convenience stores," he said.
Razeef called on local residents to report such activities to the authorities, emphasising the importance of public cooperation.
"We urge residents in affected areas to report these operations. If reports have been made but no action is taken, we encourage them to bring the matter to our attention so we can escalate it further," he said.
He acknowledged that efforts to curb online gambling were still in their early stages but cautioned against complacency, citing past cases where police officers were arrested for allegedly accepting bribes to protect illegal gambling operations.
"We hope such incidents will not occur elsewhere. The authorities must act firmly, but the public also bears responsibility. Without their reports, these illegal activities will persist.
"Together, we can eliminate these unlawful operations. Public cooperation is essential to ensuring such activities do not disrupt our communities," said Razeef.
