Malaysian MP seeks permanent task force against illegal gambling

The proposal would coordinate police, financial regulators and communications authorities to disrupt gambling syndicates and their payment networks.

Malaysia.- Malaysian MP Kelvin Yii has urged federal and state authorities to establish a permanent joint task force to tackle illegal online gambling in Sarawak. He wants a coordinated approach to enforcement, financial investigations and website blocking amid concerns about the ability of operators to resume business after police raids.

The proposal calls for a coordinated body that would bring together key regulators and enforcement agencies, including the Royal Malaysia Police, Bank Negara Malaysia, the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC), and local government councils. Under the proposed structure, the task force would hold a permanent legal mandate to target syndicate leaders, freeze financial networks, revoke local business licences, and accelerate the shutdown of unauthorised gambling websites.

According to Yii, physical premises like convenience stores and local coffee shops are acting as fronts, selling online gambling top-up cards and serving as gathering spots for illegal betting. These operations have reportedly expanded from the capital of Kuching into smaller towns and rural areas.

Law enforcement data shows that Sarawak police made nearly 5,000 arrests and requested MCMC to block nearly 1,500 gambling websites between 2022 and 2025. However, Yii emphasised that police raids under current enforcement programmes are no longer enough as operators can quickly restart operations.