JOHOR BARU: Local councils that issue licences for family entertainment centres in Johor are urged to monitor the holders of these licences to weed out those who misuse them to carry out illegal gambling activities.
Johor Police Chief Datuk Wan Ahmad Najmuddin Mohd said police are going all out to eradicate illegal gambling, and the onus was on the local councils to ensure that licence holders of family entertainment centres did not use illegal slot machines.
"Once you issue a licence, the (regulations) must be enforced. It must be monitored. But if any misuse happens, do not put the blame on us (police)," said Wan Ahmad after the state police's monthly assembly at the state police headquarters today.
He said there was an increase in the number of operations to weed out illegal gambling after he took over the state police several months ago.
Statistics provided revealed that a total of 39 raids were conducted on illegal gambling activities last year.
From the raids, police arrested 99 people and seized 930 machines from family entertainment centres and RM20,318 cash.
Between January and March 14, Johor police conducted 67 raids which led to the arrest of 183 people. A total of 219 machines at family entertainment centres were seized along with RM16,594.