IGP dismisses claims illegal gambling widespread

Mohamad Fuzi Harun pledges action against policemen supporting or taking part in such activities.

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KOTA KINABALU: Inspector-General of Police Mohamad Fuzi Harun has dismissed allegations that illegal gambling is widespread and thriving nationwide because some police officers are supporting the vice.

He, however, promised action if any members of the police force are found to be in cahoots with illegal gambling operators as claimed.

Fuzi was responding to Malaysian Muslim Consumers Association’s (PPIM) Muslim supervisory unit chief Abdul Halim Ikhsan who claimed the involvement of some police personnel in such illegal activities was common knowledge.

“I’ve said a lot about our fight against gambling, especially during my address on my first day as IGP,” Fuzi told FMT.

“We can’t eradicate the problem of gambling 100% but we’re not saying that we’re taking a lackadaisical attitude towards the problem. We’re doing our utmost to tackle the issue.

“We are not at a stage where we’re still discussing how to do things or formulating strategies. We’re already at the implementation phase for all the strategies that we have.

“We will investigate all information that we receive.

“We will not let any wrongdoings, either by members of the public or even the police force itself, go unpunished.”

Halim and another PPIM activist, Yusuf Azmi, made the claims in a video recording on Sept 23.

“There is no need to lie about it; the people know many gambling dens in Malaysia are under police protection,” said Halim.

“In Kluang (Johor), everyone knows how big and how many illegal gambling dens there are,” he added.

Halim also alleged that a district police chief had been seen in a car with a gaming towkay (boss).

“What connection does a police chief have with a gaming towkay?” he asked.

He further claimed that information gathered by PPIM at gambling dens showed that Muslim Malays were the ones enriching illegal gambling bosses.

Halim also urged the minister concerned and the local authorities to stop the spread of illegal gambling dens because they had the power to issue licences for premises, apart from gathering intelligence.

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