PUTRAJAYA have sought the help of the Malaysian Muslim Consumer Association (PPIM) to be the eyes of the authorities to weed out gambling activities in the country, said Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

Zahid, who is also home minister, said although this is the responsibility of the police, they have asked PPIM to help curb this menace.

“The home ministry together with the police are fighting the gambling menace. This is their responsibility, but we hope that PPIM will assist the police,” he said at the association’s 7th Consumer Forum in Menara Felda in Kuala Lumpur today.

PPIM, which has four million members nationwide, was established in June 1997 through the initiative of a group of professionals comprising doctors, university lecturers, religious scholars and individuals concerned about consumerism issues in Islam.

The association aims to safeguard and defend the rights and restore the dignity of Islamic consumers, through the implementation of proactive and strategic activities.

Zahid also presented RM500,000 to PPIM to carry out their activities.

He said Inspector-General of Police Mohamad Fuzi Harun has been giving him weekly reports on their operations against gambling dens.

“More than 7,900 operations have been carried out by the police this year. But, the money confiscated is small.

“The police have to be more efficient and smarter than the culprits,” Zahid said.

Zahid also said that there is another issue with white collar crime in the country.

“There are love scams, African scams and Macau scams and the victims are all Malaysians.

“To date we have extradited 419 foreigners back to their countries who were involved in the scams.

“Even in Cambodia they have extradited 300 people that were involved in the scams,” he added. – November 4, 2017.