DAP chairman Chong Chieng Jen’s special assistant, Michael Kong Feng Nian, has urged local councils to take immediate action against illegal gambling activities instead of simply shifting responsibility to the police. He stressed that local councils have the authority to revoke licenses of non-compliant operators and can directly act against venues involved in illegal activities.
Ng criticized recent statements by Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) leaders on the illegal gambling issue as a typical attempt to deflect responsibility and cover up inaction. He noted that Chong raised the matter in Parliament to fulfill his duty as the federal representative for the Sibu constituency, highlighting areas such as Stutong, Batu Kitang, and Kota Sentosa as examples reflecting wider social problems in Sarawak.
He also pointed out past examples of strict enforcement by local councils, including threatening license revocation during the COVID-19 pandemic for violators, banning plastic straws in 2022, and revoking the licenses of four illegal gambling operators in 2017, demonstrating that councils have the capacity to act effectively.
Ng emphasized that all levels of government share responsibility, and now is the critical moment for local councils to take decisive action to curb illegal gambling.
