Our laws must keep pace with advanced and professional cybercrimes

Gerakan supports proposal to amend laws to tackle online gambling

Cheah Soon Hai: Our laws must keep pace with advanced and professional cybercrimes

Press statement by

Gerakan Deputy Chairman

Dato’ Dr Cheah Soon Hai

27 November 2015

Gerakan Deputy Chairman, Dato’ Dr Cheah Soon Hai has voiced his support on the proposal by the Home Ministry to amend laws to tackle online gambling. Cheah noted that online gambling has become an increasingly popular form of gambling among Malaysians. He was concerned that the explosion of online gambling may exacerbate social problems and encourage pathological gambling.

Cheah pointed out that earlier in July the Malaysian Communication and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) has blocked access to 310 online gambling websites in the first six months this year out of 940 applications made by the police and various authorities, while 325 online gambling websites were blocked last year out of total 538 applications.

He said the sprouting of online gambling websites and the use of SMS by gambling operators to reach the public via text messages (SMS) is changing the way illegal gambling is operating traditionally in gaming houses or cyber cafes. He believed it is high time that the existing laws are reviewed to better address the new modus operandi.

“The instant gratification of virtual games, easy accessibility and high level of privacy have made illegal gambling popular and a big business. Our laws must keep pace with “very intelligent and professional” online gaming syndicates, it is important that we react proactively by having up-to-date law to give more bite to the authorities to fight online gambling,” said Cheah

Cheah also raised a number of issues surrounding online gambling that warrant attention and consideration from authorities such as the growth in the use of mobiles and wireless devices for gambling or betting and the possibility of money laundering across borders on the internet. As such, he suggested that the government should conduct a thorough study on online gambling and associated cybercrimes before proposing amendments to the existing laws. He opined that it is necessary for the authorities to take into account the broad diffusion and complex operations of cybercriminal activities including various forms of online gambling.