Aug 28, 2026 | 7:16 am
Malaysian lawmaker Kelvin Yii has proposed a permanent taskforce involving federal and Sarawak authorities to address illegal online gambling, arguing that enforcement needs stronger coordination.
The Bandar Kuching MP wants the body to bring together the Royal Malaysia Police, Bank Negara Malaysia, the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC), the Ministry of Housing and Local Government, the Sarawak government and local councils.
Yii has suggested giving the taskforce a permanent legal mandate under forthcoming gambling legislation. Its responsibilities would include investigating syndicate leaders, tracing and freezing illicit funds, and taking action against businesses and digital platforms connected to illegal gambling.
Proposal Targets Operators And Financial Networks
Under Yii's proposal, the taskforce would coordinate action against gambling websites and advertisements while examining whether licences associated with illegal activities should be revoked. It would also support investigations into the financial networks behind gambling operations.
The MP has called for prevention measures alongside enforcement. These would include awareness programmes in schools and universities, addiction counselling and debt advice. Confidential reporting channels would also form part of the proposed framework.
The plan follows concerns about physical businesses allegedly supporting online gambling. Yii said some convenience stores were selling gambling top-ups, while certain coffee shops had reportedly become gathering places for gambling activity.
He urged authorities to examine how premises associated with these activities obtained business licences and determine whether licensing or enforcement failures had occurred.
Sarawak Arrests Highlight Continuing Activity
Figures cited by Yii show that Sarawak police made nearly 5,000 arrests between 2022 and 2025. During the same period, police requested that MCMC block 1,477 websites associated with illegal gambling.
Despite these measures, Yii said gambling operations continued to reappear. He believes a permanent multi-agency structure could provide a more consistent response than separate enforcement operations.
The proposal would combine police investigations with financial oversight and regulatory action. Involving local councils and the state government alongside federal bodies would also address physical premises that may facilitate gambling-related activity.
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MP Raises Concerns Over Attacks On Businesses
Yii also pointed to public safety concerns following September incidents involving suspected explosive or flammable objects thrown at convenience stores in Kuching and Sri Aman.
According to Yii, police investigations had partly linked the attacks to disputes involving gambling top-up businesses. The incidents added another dimension to his concerns about premises allegedly connected to illegal gambling.
His proposed taskforce would address the issue through a permanent framework covering enforcement, financial investigations and prevention. However, the supplied announcement does not establish whether the government has accepted the proposal or set a timetable for implementation.
The discussion comes alongside other enforcement measures in Malaysia. Perak state police recently cut electricity to 33 premises linked to illegal gambling, according to the accompanying report.
Yii's proposal would establish a broader federal-Sarawak mechanism to coordinate responses to gambling activity across online platforms and physical locations.
Source:
“Malaysia: MP calls for permanent taskforce to combat illegal online gambling”, globalgaminginsider.com, October 22, 2026