KOTA KINABALU: Local Government and Housing Minister Minister Datuk Seri Hj Hajiji Hj Noo has been urged to instruct the Penampang District Council to conduct regular inspection on cyber cafes in the district as some are fronting as illegal cyber gambling dens.
Penampang PKR deputy chief Kenny Chua, who made the call, said the PKR Kepayan Task Force had been inundated with numerous complaints from the people in Penampang relating to these cyber cafes offering illegal cyber gambling.
“While we acknowledge that the police have been doing commendable job by raiding these illegal premises, we are shocked at the intractability shown by the masterminds behind this cyber-gambling by continuously operating their illegal business once the raid had slowed down,” he said.
Chua, who is also the Sabah’s representative of the Malaysia Crime Watch Task Force (MyWatch), said that many of the complainants are worried to see that some of the patrons of these illegal cyber-gambling dens are young adults and even secondary school students.
“So, when your children whom you know always spend their time in cyber-cafes suddenly ask for more and more money from you, you have valid reason to be worried as to what they are doing,” Chua said.
The PKR Kepayan Task Force chief is of the view that one way of closing these illegal cyber cafes for good is to have the District Council of Penampang continously conduct inspection on these cyber cafes whether they have valid trading license or not, he said.
“Who are the owners of the shophouses on which these illegal cyber-cafes are operating? Whether they are being owned by the masterminds or rented, the local authorities should have the records since the owners would have to pay the quarterly assessment to them,” Chua contended.
“Under Section 4B (a) of the Common Gaming House Act 1953, illegal cyber gambling is an illegal business activity and there is no reason whatsoever for the District Council of Penampang to shut their eyes and pretend that they don’t notice it. Make some efforts to curb this menace which is happening right under their nose. And if they don’t have the will or courage to deal with this menace, then we suggest that they resign and let others take their place,” he charged.
“So I urge the Minister of Local Government and Housing to seriously look into the matter since most of the illegal cyber gambling dens are being operated in public and commercial premises around Penampang,” he said.
Chua had earlier officiated at a blood donation campaign at Yu Sang Supermarket Kepayan which was organized by the PKR Kepayan Task Force, Likas Hospital and Yu Sang Supermarket.
The campaign attracted more than 100 donors, with the MP for Penampang, Darell Leiking and Moyog assemblyman, Terrence A. Siambun heading the list of donors.