KUALA LUMPUR, July 16 — Approximately 457,562 online gambling-related content was taken down by service providers between January 1, 2025, and May 31 this year.
The Communications Ministry said the figure represented 98 per cent 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,” it said in a written Parliamentary reply published on the Parliament website today.
The ministry was responding to Betong MP Datuk Dr Richard Rapu's query on the number of gambling advertisement portals blocked and arrests involving online gambling operators.
It added that matters relating to gambling activities generally fall under the jurisdiction of the Royal Malaysia 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 Batu MP Prabakaran Parameswaran's query, the ministry said the MCMC had submitted 275,787 requests to remove scam-related content between January 1, 2022, and June 30 this year.
Of the total requests, which also involved fake accounts and impersonation, 262,293 posts, or 95 per cent, were taken down by service providers based on complaints and applicable local laws.
To address financial fraud under Act 866, five content takedown requests were submitted between January 1 and June 30 this year, all of which were successfully acted upon.
It noted that the whole-of-government approach continues to be strengthened through the National Scam Response Centre and the implementation of the Safe Internet Campaign, which has so far reached 10,303 schools and institutions of higher learning nationwide.
