Sungai Buloh police deny allegations of inaction over illegal gambling activities

SUNGAI BULOH: Police have denied allegations of inaction over illegal gambling activities in the district.

This is in response to viral videos by "Hot Burger Malaysia" which was shared by Facebook user Asri Janggut on Saturday (Aug 8), claiming that police were in cahoots with illegal gambling syndicates.

Sungai Buloh OCPD Supt Shafa'aton Abu Bakar described the allegations made by the Facebook user as untrue and inaccurate.

"Two police reports have been lodged by the Sungai Buloh police station chief and an officer from the Shah Alam City Council (MBSA).

"His allegations could tarnish the image of the police force, especially that of the Selangor police in our efforts to curb illegal gambling in the state especially in Sungai Buloh," she told a press conference on Sunday (Aug 9).

She added that the police are investigating the matter and will call up the man who made the allegations.

"We will record his statement soon," she added

On Saturday, police also conducted six raids, resulting in the arrests of two Bangladeshi men, she added.

"The premises were not the ones highlighted by the Facebook user.

"We discovered the ones he alleged as illegal gambling dens were not in operation," Supt Shafa'aton said.

She also urged the public to come forward with any information on criminal activities but not in the manner that the Facebook user had done.

"Members of the public can also come and meet with me or my officers on any criminal incidents and activities

"We hope for the strong cooperation from people to combat crime," she said.

She also denied allegations made by the same Facebook user that the police report was leaked to the syndicates.

"Any information given to the police will be safeguarded.

"We never close one eye to criminal activities let alone be in cahoots with them," she said.

The Facebook Live videos, which went viral on Saturday had received more than three million views.

The Facebook user claimed that the police were in cahoots with illegal gambling syndicates while the smuggling of contraband cigarettes were also rampant.

He also complained of unfair actions of the MBSA in seizing his burger stalls

Police also conducted a total of 11 raids on illegal gambling dens in Sungai Buloh since early this year, Supt Shafa'aton said.

"The last of the raids were conducted two weeks prior to the videos going viral.

"The 11 raids resulted in the arrests of 10 caretakers and 13 players.

We also seized five laptops and 39 tablets during the operations," she added.