Gambling dens still active in PJ Old Town

There are eight gambling dens in Petaling Jaya Old Town that are still operating despite numerous raids.

GAMBLING dens in Petaling Jaya need to be shut down for good instead of only being raided, said Bukit Gasing assemblyman R. Rajiv.

Despite numerous police reports lodged against the outlets, such as those in Petaling Jaya Old Town, he said business was running as usual.

“I lodged a report in January on the illegal activities, but they are still operating.

“The complaints we received are from residents, business owners and people who patronised the area for decades.

“It is a long-standing issue. I recall the police chief telling back in 2015 that there would be no more gambling dens, but today there are still so many,” Rajiv said.

He added that the council only had the power to raid and confiscate the computers; it did not have the power to arrest anyone.

Rajiv said there were three gambling dens on Jalan 1/12, two on Jalan 1/21, one each on Jalan 11/14, Jalan 14/14 and Jalan 14/20.

“After the raid, these shops will start operating again within 24 hours,” he said.

MCA veteran and former Kampung Tunku assemblyman Datuk Dr Wong Sai Hau said the state government should carry out more joint raids.

Petaling Jaya OCPD Asst Comm Mohd Zani Che Din said the police had raided 1,018 gambling dens in 2016 and charged 598 workers managing the dens in court in Petaling Jaya.

He said the police would normally open a separate investigation on the owner of the gambling dens under the Prevention of Crime Act.

“The first to be charged in court will be those managing the dens during the raids.

“We will go after the owner after the investigations are completed,” he said.

When asked why the water and electricity supply to these dens were not disconnected, ACP Mohd Zani said there were legal frameworks that had to be sorted out with other authorities before that could be done.