Sarawak State Police Force has been carrying out a series of raids targeting on illegal gambling outlets for a while now. Following their success, they are now turning their eyes onto the illegal reload service providers throughout the state. Their effort is commendable and should be duly supported by all the people.
In view of this, SUPP Kota Sentosa Chairman Wilfred Yap called on the general public in a statement, to play their part by providing useful tips and intelligence to the police, in order to curb these illegal activities effectively.
“As responsible citizens, we should never turn a blind eye and simply mind our own business. Even if it does not affect you directly, it will in some other ways. Working closely with the authorities will greatly enhance their effectiveness and increase their chances of success in making arrest, which eventually leads to prosecution.”
Yap said, illegal online gambling is fast becoming yet another major social problem in Sarawak apart from drug issues and it is fast gaining popularity mainly due to the convenience it provides, since all one needs is just a cheap smartphone or tablet and the ability to go online. Furthermore, he added, reload services which are readily available in many public places made the already bad situation even worse.
“We can’t deny the fact that online gambling has become a major social issue nowadays, and for those who are looking to make quick and easy money, this is indeed very tempting and hard to resist. In fact, it can even be very addictive! But luck does not always stand on our side. When these people lost their money, they want to keep playing to win back their losses.”
As a result to that, Yap said, many people spent their entire fortune and lifetime saving on online or other forms of gambling, some even got into serious debt problems with the loan sharks.
Meanwhile, Yap also urged the parents to closely monitor their children’s usage of smartphones and check for suspicious activities as more often than not, these online gambling apps are designed to look like just like harmless, innocent games.
