KOTA KINABALU: Four primary schoolchildren in Papar had been going to school without allowances and food.
Sabah PKR information chief Razeef Rakimin said the party was informed of the situation by a school teacher in Papar.
He added that the children's parents, who are government servants, had neglected their duty as they were engrossed in the online gambling activities.
"This is why I want to bring this issue forward. We want the authorities to be stricter, and we urge the public to play a role in reporting operating premises."
He said the party wanted to address this issue as online gambling cases were being reported more and more, including in rural areas.
"When we look at grocery shops, even small motor repair shops sometimes engage in these activities.
"Small establishments have opened for registration and to top up funds for online gambling. Even now, they could just make a call or bank in money to top up when they have incurred losses (while gambling) ," he told a press conference.
He said online gambling also causes other issues such as domestic violence.
Razeef said most of the players of online gambling are the poor from rural areas who cannot afford to go to casinos or large gambling centres.
He added those people, in their desperation, seek opportunities and hope to change their luck through gambling, but it often leads to greater hardship.
Razeef added that despite the authorities having raided premises suspected of gambling and reports were lodged, business premises still sell the top-up not long after they were taken action.
"These kinds of things create the perception that enforcement officers or authorities are being bribed,"he said, adding the party members would do their part in addressing the issue by meeting the people.