A total of 536 websites had been blocked under the Common Gaming Houses Act 1953 as of April this year.

Communications and Multimedia Minister Ahmad Shabery Cheek said the blocks were made based on written requests from the Royal Malaysian Police.

He said the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) always cooperated by providing technical assistance in issues involving gambling activities.

"The cooperation provided includes assistance in restricting access to these illegal gambling websites," he said in a written reply to Lim Lip Eng (DAP-Segambut) at the Dewan Rakyat today.

Lim had asked about the methods used by the government to curb the emergence of illegal gambling websites, considering the Common Gaming Houses Act 1953 was deemed to be outdated and the number of convicted cases.

- Bernama