Federal govt drafting laws to curb illegal online gambling, says Fadillah

KUCHING (Feb 15): The federal government is in the process of drafting legislation to address illegal online gambling, said Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Amar Fadillah Yusof.

Fadillah, who is also Energy Transition and Water Transformation Minister, said the proposed legal framework is expected to be tabled in an upcoming Parliamentary sitting if ready in time.

“At the federal level, the government is drafting laws to tackle illegal gambling. InsyaAllah, we hope it can be brought to the next Parliament session. If it is not ready, then it will be in the following session,” he said.

Fadillah, who is also Petra Jaya MP, told reporters this after officiating the Annual Grant Presentation Ceremony for the Village Development and Security Committees (JKKK) of the Petra Jaya parliamentary constituency for 2026 at the Royal Malaysian Customs Academy (Akmal) Hall here on Sunday.

He stressed that the matter is being taken seriously due to its potential social impact, particularly on the younger generation.

“If it is not curbed, it can affect social wellbeing, especially our younger generations. That is why the government is looking at it seriously,” he said.

Asked whether the proposed legislation already has a specific name, Fadillah said it has yet to be finalised.

“Not yet. Whether it will be a specific Act or incorporated into existing cybercrime laws is still being considered,” he added.

On statistics regarding online gambling cases by state or country rankings, he said he did not have the relevant global data but emphasised that the issue must be addressed regardless of whether the numbers are high or low.

“The important thing is whether the cases are high or low, it must be taken seriously. The way forward is to strengthen laws related to the matter so the police will have clearer powers to take action, alongside enforcement authority at the local council level,” he said.

Earlier in his officiating speech, Fadillah highlighted the importance of community leadership in safeguarding both welfare and security at the village level, noting that modern challenges now extend beyond traditional concerns.

He said data collection at the grassroots is crucial to enable more targeted planning and assistance, including identifying residents who require welfare, health or educational support, as well as those involved in small businesses.

Among the emerging challenges facing communities, he singled out online gambling, synthetic drugs and the misuse of social media as key concerns requiring coordinated monitoring between local leaders and enforcement agencies.

“Security today is not only about physical safety but also social wellbeing. Online gambling is one of the challenges we are facing. We have discussed at the Cabinet level how to amend laws so they can better control online gambling,” he said.

Meanwhile, the annual grant presented during the ceremony is aimed at assisting JKKKs within the Petra Jaya parliamentary constituency in carrying out yearly activities such as meetings, gotong-royong programmes, talks and courses, village beautification initiatives as well as welfare programmes.

A total of 87 JKKKs received the grant, with each committee allocated RM3,000, bringing the overall disbursement to RM261,000.