KUALA LUMPUR: Police and the attorney-general’s chambers are in the midst of drawing up a law to fight illegal online gaming.
Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar said police were in “serious discussions” with the AG’s office to curb the growing number of illegal cyber-gaming centres.
“Our hands are tied, as there are no provisions under the current law against online gaming for us to prosecute them accordingly,” he said.
Khalid said the absence of a law to govern illegal gaming outlets also hampered police efforts to eradicate gaming activities in the country.
“The existing law does not specify or include online gaming. This makes it hard for us to nab those involved.
“This is why we are pushing for an amendment so that those involved can be brought to justice,” he said, adding that the current law against gambling was a short-term solution.
Khalid said he hoped the law would be drawn up soon, thus giving police the power to eradicate illegal cyber-gaming activities.
“We are also considering punishing illegal gaming premises owners for renting out space for illegal use.”
He said many owners were aware of the illegal activities carried out in their premises, but chose to keep mum because of the high rental fees they collected.
On another matter, Khalid said police had requested the help of Interpol to arrest two Malaysians who recently sought asylum in the United States and Sweden.
He said Interpol had issued a Red Notice seeking the location and arrest of blogger Alvin Tan, believed to be hiding in the US, and activist Ali Abd Jalil, in Sweden, with a view to extradite them.
A Red Notice describes a wanted person with a view to extradition, which is issued by Interpol at the request of an Interpol member country and distributed to all member countries.
The Interpol Red Notice is the closest instrument to an international arrest warrant in use today.
Tan is sought for jumping bail over a trial involving three charges, including the Sedition Act and Film Censorship Act.
Ali faces sedition charges for insulting the Sultan of Selangor and Johor royalty.