Be Careful Says Minister After Burger Man S Gambling Expose

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Burger seller Mohd Asri Hamid at a meeting with home minister Hamzah Zainudin yesterday. (Bernama pic)SUNGAI BULOH: The public should use the proper channels to report any criminal cases, including illegal gambling, to avoid endangering their own safety, said home minister Hamzah Zainudin
While expressing his gratitude to burger seller Mohd Asri Hamid, 42, for exposing gambling activities in Sungai Buloh, Hamzah said the act of disseminating information on social media could pose a threat to the whistleblower
“We encourage these whistleblowers to provide information on criminal cases, but it should be done according to the laws and they must not act recklessly
“Do not make any accusations to the extent of making them go viral on social media. Please lodge a report and the authorities will investigate,” he told reporters when met in Bandar Baru Sungai Buloh here yesterday
A live video broadcast via the Hot Burger Malaysia Facebook page had gone viral and was also shared on Mohd Asri’s account under the name of ‘Asri Janggut’. He claimed that the authorities did not take any action on gambling activities in Sungai Buloh, revealing the gambling locations
When asked whether the police would take action against Mohd Asri, Hamzah said the police would question him so that proper action could be taken on his allegations
“It’s not that we want to punish him (Mohd Asri) but we want to investigate every claim and accusation made by him,” he said
Hamzah said the police would also take action to ensure Mohd Asri’s safety, as he claimed that he might be in danger for exposing the video in social media
At the same time, he said, stern action would be taken against police personnel if the allegations that they have been protecting illegal activities turned out to be true
Sungai Buloh police deny protecting gamblersSungai Buloh district police chief Shafa’aton Abu Bakar denied Mohd Asri’s allegations of police protecting the gamblers and said police have opened an investigation paper on the case and would call up Mohd Asri to record his statement
Selangor police chief Noor Azam Jamaludin said that a team from Sungai Buloh district headquarters had raided the gambling dens in Bandar Baru Sungai Buloh, with the latest operation being conducted on Saturday
Earlier today, Inspector-General of Police Abdul Hamid Bador had contacted Mohd Asri to thank him for his revelation
Gambling godfather told me off, says Mohd AsriMohd Asri said he was also contacted by an individual who expressed dissatisfaction over his move to expose the gambling activities
“I was contacted by a person who claimed to be the ‘godfather’ of this area, saying what I did was wrong. But I did not receive any threat
“I have conveyed this to the IGP, who informed me that the police will investigate the matter,” he said
Bernama reported today that the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission would investigate allegations that the authorities were protecting illegal premises, gambling dens and people selling contraband cigarettes around Sungai Buloh
Deputy chief commissioner Ahmad Khusairi Yahaya said the MACC took a serious view of the issues brought up in two video clips which claimed the authorities had failed to monitor and enforce the law, besides taking bribes from those involved in illegal activities. - FMT

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