Police in the Malaysian provinces of Sarawak and Sibu have stepped up efforts to eradicate illegal online gaming with a series of raids and arrests and a commitment to continue the crackdown.
New Year’s Eve raids in Miri in the Sarawak province led to 48 arrests and the seizure of computer hardware and cash.
Miri police spokesman ACP Mun Kock Keong said the operation had been the biggest of its kind in 2013: “We are committed to crippling such activities, and those errant people who intend to set up such businesses within commercial buildings or houses will face the music.”
In Sibu meanwhile, district police chief ACP Mohd Kamal Kordi said it is his intention to stamp out illegal online gaming in the province by the end of 2014.
“We will work closely with the local authority,” said Kamal. “We will also work with the electricity provider to cut supply to such [i-gaming operations] so that they will not be able to operate.”
In 2013, a total of 596 raids were reportedly carried out in Sibu. This led to the successful prosecution of just four operators, indicating flawed intelligence.
“Not all raids last year were successful,” conceded Kamal. “Before conducting any raid, we need to have the correct information or else our operation will not achieve the target.”
