KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 29 ― Malay rights group Jaringan Melayu Malaysia (JMM) accused the police and local councils today of colluding to protect gambling dens nationwide and warned that the people will take matters into their own hands if the authorities fail to nip the problem at the root.
The group claimed to have received many complaints of illegal gambling centres disguised as family entertainment outlets that were purportedly raking in money from young Malays but added that the authorities were not doing enough in cracking down on these operations.
“JMM fears that if there is no monitoring and stern action from PDRM and the local councils, society will act on its own resulting in chaotic cases like what happened in Low Yat and Kota Raya in Kuala Lumpur,” the group’s president Azwanddin Hamzah said in a statement, using the Malay initials for the Royal Malaysian Police.
To support his allegation, Azwanddin said business licence applications for family entertainment outlets are vetted by the local government councils and the district police chief, and the same authorities are the ones to take action if complaints should arise.
However, he claimed the police and the local town council will “try to protect these premises with gambling machines because they are the ones who gave approval”.
“It would be impossible for the YDP and the OCPD to close down premises they had personally approved,” the Malay rights activist said, referring to the head of the local town council and the police officer in charge of the districts.
One way to resolve this problem, Azwanddin said, was to set up a special agency to issue family entertainment licences that does not involve the police or the local councils.
“With this, PDRM and the local council will not point fingers at each other,” he said, adding that his idea would prevent negative public perceptions towards the authorities.
An outbreak in Malay vigilantism hit headlines this year following allegations of consumer fraud cases at two tech malls in the federal capital.
The first incident took place at Low Yat Plaza in July and resulted in a racial brawl, while another punch-up between unhappy customers and handphone sellers broke out earlier this month at the Kota Raya Shopping Complex.
