KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 3 – The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) removed 724,879 online gambling-related items between January 1, 2025, and October 31, 2026, representing a 98 percent success rate across 738,372 submitted takedown requests.
Deputy Communications Minister Teo Nie Ching revealed the statistics during the Dewan Rakyat oral question-and-answer session on Tuesday, November 3, 2026.
Teo noted that collaborative enforcement between MCMC, service providers, and law enforcement bodies resulted in blocking 2,603 illegal gambling websites over the same 22-month period.
Addressing inquiries from Roy Angau Gingkoi (GPS-Lubok Antu) and Aminolhuda Hassan (PH-Sri Gading), Teo clarified statutory roles between regulatory and policing bodies:
“The Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) is the main enforcement agency under the Common Gaming Houses Act 1953 (Act 289), while MCMC carries out regulatory action on the abuse of communication platforms and networks under the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 (Act 588) and the Online Safety Act 2025 (Act 866),” Teo explained.
From January to July 2026 alone, joint efforts led to blocking 573 gambling websites and removing 253,424 promotional items across digital service platforms.
Teo highlighted MCMC’s active participation in PDRM-led operations, including Op JOL and Op Soga XI, which targeted illegal gambling and sports betting syndicates linked to the FIFA World Cup 2026. MCMC provides digital forensics, technical investigation support, and server identification to back police operations.
In response to supplementary questions regarding financial transaction blocking and asset seizures:
- Financial Account Monitoring: Authorities are studying proposals to deepen cooperation between MCMC, Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM), commercial banks, and enforcement agencies to freeze accounts used by gambling syndicates.
- Fake BTS Scams: MCMC is collaborating with PDRM and telco providers under Op Pancing and Op Delusi to dismantle Fake Base Transceiver Station (Fake BTS) devices used to broadcast mass SMS scam links.
- Asset & Cash Seizures: Responding to RSN Rayer (PH-Jelutong), Teo clarified that physical arrests and asset seizures remain under PDRM’s sole jurisdiction.
Enforcement Metrics, Regulatory Acts, and Inter-Agency Operations
Key enforcement statistics, statutory frameworks, and operational details include:
- Takedown & Block Metrics: 724,879 gambling items removed (98% takedown rate) and 2,603 websites blocked from Jan 2025 to Oct 2026; 573 websites blocked and 253,424 items removed between Jan–Jul 2026.
- Statutory Frameworks: Enforcement divided under Common Gaming Houses Act 1953 (PDRM), Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 (MCMC), and Online Safety Act 2025 (MCMC).
- Joint Police Operations: Technical assistance supplied to PDRM for Op JOL, Op Soga XI (FIFA World Cup 2026 betting), Op Pancing, and Op Delusi (Fake BTS devices).
- Financial Integration Plan: Strategic proposal under review with Bank Negara Malaysia to block syndicate bank accounts and payment gateways.
–NMT
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