19-6-2023 (KUALA LUMPUR) Malaysian Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail stated on Sunday that the decision to reveal the names of politicians involved in illegal online gambling syndicates lies with the police and the country’s anti-graft agency.
According to the New Straits Times (NST), Saifuddin acknowledged that the police and the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) possess extensive information on the masterminds and individuals behind these syndicates.
“The establishment of political patronage was determined based on the comprehensive data and information gathered by the MACC and the Inspector General of Police. There is a necessity for both law enforcement agencies to exchange information,” Saifuddin told reporters after attending a home ministry programme, as quoted by NST.
Saifuddin also revealed that the online gambling syndicates store their profits in the form of cryptocurrency. He stated, “I recently disclosed that almost 100 websites involved in online gambling activities are in operation. Considering their scale, the volume of these operations is enormous, and the syndicates are using cryptocurrency to store their profits. They are highly sophisticated.”
According to Free Malaysia Today (FMT), Saifuddin disclosed that these syndicates are earning up to RM250 million (US$54 million) per week. He urged the police to stay ahead in their data analytics concerning these syndicates.
On Saturday, MACC chief commissioner Azam Baki confirmed that the agency received information regarding claims of political protection or patronage in illegal online gambling activities, as reported by The Star. He added that the MACC will collaborate with the police in their investigations.
Saifuddin had previously stated in parliament on Thursday that political patrons back online gambling syndicates, posing a significant obstacle for the home ministry, police, and government. FMT reported that he explained how “political masters” shield these syndicates from legal action, and in return, the syndicates reciprocate the favor. However, he did not provide further details on the nature of this reciprocation.
Saifuddin’s response came following a question posed by Member of Parliament R Ramanan regarding the existence of political patronage in the illegal online gambling industry.
In February, the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission announced that it had blocked 6,381 online gambling websites between 2020 and the end of 2022.
