KOTA KINABALU: The recent series of raids and seizures of electronic equipment that were suspected to be used for gambling activities, by the police, from the various family recreational centres in the city, clearly indicated that the monitoring and enforcement of the Kota Kinabalu City Hall (DBKK) has been seriously compromised, said Api-Api assemblywoman Christina Liew.
She stressed that the State Government and the Ministry of Local Government and Housing should view this matter seriously and to come up with effective measures to remedy this, without any further delay, citing its far-reaching implications on the society.
“The recent raids conducted by the police shows that illegal gambling activities had now infiltrated into the family recreational centres which are usually patronised by children and teenagers. In other words, our society is being exposed to the bad influence of gambling at a young age, and this is certainly very unhealthy as, it could eventually lead to a host of social ills.
“Hence, I hope the State Government and the authorities concerned could nip this problem in the bud, before things get out of control,” she said.
Liew added the raids and seizures conducted by the police had vindicated her concern over the suspected abuse of business premises by unscrupulous gambling operators, which she raised in her written question posed to the Ministry of Local Government and Housing in the State Legislative Assembly sitting in July.
However, in his written reply, the minister, Datuk Hajiji Mohd Noor, had dismissed the notion that the local authorities seemed to be condoning operations of illegal gambling activities at business premises.
Hajiji stressed that he had never neglected his duty through the local authorities, in ensuring that business premises are conducting their activities that are only allowed as stipulated in their trading license.
“With the media reports on the recent raids and seizures of the suspected gambling machines by the City Police, I wish to bring this issue up again for debate in the current State Legislative Assembly sitting. I hope the other elected representatives too would support me in this case, towards finding the best solutions to address this issue,” she said.
She reiterated that many parents had in the past called her up to complain over their children’s addiction to cyber gambling activities which were conducted in a business premises in the city.