KUALA LUMPUR: A total of 457,562 online gambling-related content was taken down by service providers between Jan 1, 2025, and May 31 this year.
The Communications Ministry said the figure represented 98% of the 467,772 content takedown requests submitted following proactive monitoring by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) and formal requests from enforcement agencies.
"During the same period, 1,778 gambling websites were also blocked by internet service providers at the request of the MCMC," the ministry said in a written parliamentary reply published on the Parliament website on Thursday (July 16), in response to a question from Datuk Dr Richard Rapu (GPS-Betong) on the number of gambling advertisement portals blocked and arrests involving online gambling operators.
The ministry added that matters relating to gambling activities generally fall under the jurisdiction of the police pursuant to the Common Gaming Houses Act 1953. However, the MCMC continues to support enforcement efforts by providing investigative assistance and implementing website blocking under the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 and the Online Safety Act 2025 (Act 866).
Meanwhile, in a separate written reply to a question from Prabakaran M Parameswaran (PH-Batu), the ministry said the MCMC had submitted 275,787 requests for the removal of scam-related content between Jan 1, 2022 and June 30 this year.
Of the total requests, which also involved fake accounts and impersonation, 262,293 posts, or 95%, were taken down by service providers based on complaints and applicable local laws.
To address financial fraud under the Online Safety Act 2025 (Act 866), a total of five content takedown requests were submitted between Jan 1 and June 30 this year, all of which were successfully acted upon.
The ministry added that the whole-of-government approach continues to be strengthened through the National Scam Response Centre (NSRC), as well as the implementation of the Safe Internet Campaign, which has so far reached 10,303 schools and institutions of higher learning nationwide. – Bernama
