THE Penang government will back the police in its crackdown on illegal gambling in the state.

Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said only the police had the power to act against crime.

He was responding to a call by Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Zahid Hamidi yesterday that Penang police to eradicate illegal gambling in the state.

Zahid also raised concern that kingpins behind such activities might fund political parties for the elections.

“The deputy prime minister did not say which political party. It is up to him to identify the parties.

“In this case, he is stating it generally. We leave it to him to identify the party. But Penang will back up the police in its action against illegal gambling activities if needed,” Lim said today at Komtar.

Lim said the Pakatan Harapan-led Penang government’s position on illegal gambling had been clear all this while, that it was against it.

“We have a strong stand against gambling. When the Padang Besar MP (Zahidi Zainul Abidin) suggested a casino be built in Penang last year, we immediately shot down the idea,” he said.

Earlier, the Penang government presented RM10,000 in Hari Raya contributions to the army and police. Lim said the money was to recognise their hard work to maintain security and order.

Penang police chief Commissioner Chuah Ghee Lye and 6th Brigade chief of staff Lieutenant-Colonel Mohd Yusoff Nor accepted the contributions. 

On Zahid’s order to wipe out illegal gambling in Penang, Chuah said yesterday that the police had already been conducting operations against such activities.

“The message has been sent to my officers and all those involved in such activities by the minister himself, that we (the police) mean business,” he said at the buka puasa event last night following Zahid’s speech.

Chuah, however, declined to comment on Zahid’s remark that kingpins behind illegal gambling activities may be funding to political parties for the next general election.

“If it is corruption, it is under the purview of MACC (Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission). We look at the criminal matters while MACC looks at corruption.”

Chuah also said illegal gambling occurred in all districts in Penang.

He said it had been a challenge for the police to eradicate illegal gambling dens, as the operators would move to other locations after a raid.

Chuah said most of the illegal gambling involved unlicensed lottery syndicates.

It was reported that up until June 4, the police had conducted 211 raids on illegal gambling dens, arrested 315 people, and seized more than 1,200 gambling machines, such as simulators, slot machines and laptops. – June 14, 2017.