World

Malaysia arrests over 300 suspects in World Cup football betting crackdown

Police conducted 293 raids across the country, arresting 331 suspects, including 312 men and 19 women. Of those detained, 234 were Malaysian nationals and 97 were foreigners.

Kuala Lumpur (VNA) – Malaysian police have arrested more than 300 people in a nationwide operation targeting illegal sports betting and online gambling activities linked to the FIFA World Cup 2026.

Director of the Criminal Investigation Department Datuk M. Kumar said the nationwide operation was launched in response to a significant increase in illegal football betting during the tournament, which runs from June 11 to July 19.

Police conducted 293 raids across the country, arresting 331 suspects, including 312 men and 19 women. Of those detained, 234 were Malaysian nationals and 97 were foreigners.

Authorities also seized more than 145,000 MYR (over 30,000 USD) in cash and uncovered illegal betting transactions worth an estimated 2.63 million MYR.

In a statement, the Criminal Investigation Department said police are working closely with the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) to block gambling-related advertisements and promotional activities on websites and social media platforms.

Kumar added that authorities had identified 185 websites, online platforms, applications and social media accounts being used for football betting and gambling promotions.

According to the official, all suspects are being investigated under the Betting Act 1953 and the Immigration Act 1959/63. Investigations will also be conducted under the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001.

Police will continue enforcement operations and strategic cooperation with relevant agencies to combat illegal gambling, he said, urging the public to come forward with information to help the authorities tackle the problem./.

VNA
#Malaysia #football betting #FIFA World Cup 2026 #Malaysian police Malaysia
Follow VietnamPlus

Related News

Thai broadcaster Jasmine International (JAS) inks an eleventh-hour deal for World Cup rights.

Thai broadcaster secures FIFA World Cup 2026 rights at last minute

JAS finalised the 70-million-USD agreement with FIFA on June 11. The deal grants the company exclusive rights to broadcast not only the FIFA World Cup in 2026 and 2030 but also a wide range of FIFA competitions through 2030, including men's and women's football tournaments, futsal, beach soccer, the FIFA Club World Cup and FIFA eSports events.

See more

New species of long-necked dinosaur discovered in Thailand

New species of long-necked dinosaur discovered in Thailand

According to the latest announcement from the Phu Wiang Dinosaur Museum under Thailand's Department of Mineral Resources, the fossil of the newly identified dinosaur species was discovered at the Phu Noi fossil site in Kalasin province, embedded in rock layers of the Phu Kradung Formation dating to the Late Jurassic period, approximately 150 million years ago.

Indonesia promotes aviation ecosystem development

Indonesia promotes aviation ecosystem development

INACA Chairman Denon Prawiraatmadja said the third IAS serves as a collaborative platform for the government, industry players, and all stakeholders to sustainably strengthen the national aviation ecosystem.

AI-powered robots displayed at an event in Malaysia (Photo: VNA)

Malaysia unveils strategy to counter future cyber threats

Malaysia must shift from conventional security methods to a more comprehensive strategy to address rapidly evolving threats, including emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), post-quantum cryptography and drones.

Containers are handled at a port in Penang state, Malaysia. (Photo: VNA)

Malaysia central bank upbeat on 2026 economic growth

Domestic demand continues to be underpinned by a stable labour market, strong export performance and sustained investment activity. Rising exports are expected to support employment and private consumption, while growing demand linked to artificial intelligence and the electrical and electronics sector is expected to provide an additional boost.

Thai court jails bank employees over mule account scam network

Thai court jails bank employees over mule account scam network

The court in Pattaya province found that four employees of a commercial bank in Pattaya, including a branch manager, had facilitated the opening of bank accounts for Chinese nationals entering Thailand on tourist visas. The accounts were later used as mule accounts to receive funds fraudulently obtained by call-centre scam gangs.

Illustrative Image (Photo: VNA)

Philippines posts record rice imports in first half of 2026

According to the BPI, rice imports from January to June rose 20.1%, or about 460,000 tonnes, from 2.29 million tonnes in the same period last year. The first-half total already accounts for around 57% of the government's full-year import target of 4.8 million tonnes.

A booth of Palestine at the D-8 Halal Expo Indonesia (HEI) 2026 in Jakarta. (Photo: VNA)

Indonesia eyes central role in global halal economy

Indonesian Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Anis Matta said promoting the D-8 Halal Economic Initiative is a concrete step towards strengthening Indonesia's economic integration with the Islamic world amid a volatile global economy. He added that the halal economy will become a new driver of Indonesia's economic growth and export expansion.

Thailand busts fake birth certificate ring for foreign children

Thailand busts fake birth certificate ring for foreign children

According to the Royal Thai Police, the network recruited Thai men to pose as the fathers of foreign-born children in order to complete birth registration procedures and fraudulently secure Thai citizenship. Preliminary investigations found that 164 children had been registered through the scheme over the past five years.

The Petronas Twin Towers, a tourist magnet of Malaysia, as seen from the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (Photo: VNA)

Malaysia sees rise in international tourist arrivals

The growth was driven by strong demand from key source markets, including ASEAN member states, China, Japan, Australia, China's Taiwan and Hong Kong, as well as Central Asian countries such as Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan.

Indonesia develops breakthrough nickel ore processing technology

Indonesia develops breakthrough nickel ore processing technology

Unlike conventional refining methods that typically process only one type of nickel ore, the new process developed by Indonesia’s National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) can handle both saprolite and limonite ores within a single refining sequence.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi (L) and Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto pose for a photo at the Prambanan Temple complex in Yogyakarta, Indonesia. (Photo: VNA)

Indonesia, India launch Prambanan cultural heritage conservation project

Speaking at the July 8 event, Prabowo described Prambanan as not only a historic monument but also a symbol of the great civilisation of the Indonesian archipelago. He noted that the Ramayana bas-reliefs adorning the temple walls stand as vivid testimony to the centuries-old cultural exchanges and enduring ties between the civilisations of Indonesia and India.

A cargo port in India (Photo: ANI/VNA)

India seeks to reshape ties with ASEAN

Since launching its Act East policy and, more recently, the MAHASAGAR (Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions) vision, India has shifted from merely "looking East" to actively “acting East”, placing ASEAN and the Southeast Asian region at the centre of its Indo-Pacific strategy.

Thai commission strengthens trade competition framework

Thai commission strengthens trade competition framework

Following its participation in negotiations to upgrade the ASEAN – Korea Free Trade Agreement (AKFTA) in Seoul, the Republic of Korea, the TCCT underscored the growing importance of incorporating competition law cooperation into international trade agreements.