Saifuddin Nasution: Home Ministry will push to amend outdated legislations to fight online gambling
KUALA LUMPUR, June 15 ― The Home Ministry said today it intends to push for amendments on outdated legislations covering the offence of illegal online gambling to keep up with the times as these laws are not tailored to deal with gambling conducted in cyberspace.
Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said the legislations ― namely the Common Gaming Houses Act 1953 and the Betting Act 1953 ― were insufficient to deter online gambling operators and players since both Acts have not been amended over 70 years.
“Now it is 2023, these Acts have never been amended. Who should be amending them? Parliament and politicians but these never took place.
“There was an effort to push for amendments in 2019 but it was tremendously slow. God Willing, I will discuss with the Prime Minister since both Acts are under the Finance Ministry's jurisdiction.
“In 1953, gambling was probably cockfightings but now it's online gambling, and we are still using the same Acts,” he told the Dewan Rakyat today.
Explaining the necessity for legislative amendments, Saifuddin Nasution said offenders would succeed in their challenge in court if they are prosecuted since online gambling is excluded as a criminal offence under said Acts.
Saifuddin Nasution vowed to see the matter through at the soonest, further emphasising the political will of the current government to push for said legislation amendments.
He also affirmed the existence of political patronage protecting illegal gambling operators when asked by backbencher Sungai Buloh MP Datuk R. Ramanan.
The minister described political patronage as the biggest obstacle to his ministry and enforcement agencies in their attempt to curb said illicit activities.
Such protections towards syndicates, Saifuddin Nasution said, would entail information leaks to avoid capture.
“For me to stand here and state that illegal gambling in Malaysia is free from political patronage would incite laughter from others.
“Yes, political patronage exists, I am saying affirmatively. From there comes influence and protection; from there comes corruption and bribery; and from there comes the lacklustre political will to curb this issue,” he said.
Saifuddin Nasution described how offenders made use of existing loopholes and took advantage of the legislation to conduct online betting and gaming activities.
"The loophole has rendered the police incapable. When they open an investigation and it is brought to court for prosecution, these offenders are let off with just a fine of RM50,000, a meagre sum and punishment incompatible for a multi-billion worth industry.
"Thus this matter requires a whole nation approach," he said when asked by Opposition MP for Kota Bharu Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan.
Earlier, Saifuddin Nasution said the authorities have blocked access to 2,119 websites from 2021 until May 2023, but mirror sites emerged soon after to replace them.
