KUALA LUMPUR – With Malaysians still riled up over an insensitive Hari Raya Aidilfitri commercial by an online betting firm, a similar ad by another such company has surfaced.
In the three-minute, 19-second video by IBC003, a roadside trader plans to return to his hometown to meet his wife, but his motorcycle has been stolen.
Out of cash, the man turns to the IBC003 gambling website, where he wins some money. He then makes the trip back to his hometown, even buying gifts for his wife.
The chorus of the ad’s Raya jingle goes: “Raya nak menjelang tiba, oh diri sedang mencuba di IBC003, aku pun mahu juga IBC003, manalah tahu berjaya, Hari Raya kita kaya (Raya is coming, I’ll give IBC003 a shot, I, too want IBC003, who knows I’ll win, on Hari Raya, we’ll be rich).”
The commercial has since been removed from the company’s website, a move believed made following the controversy surrounding the ad put out by the GDBet333 online casino.
However, copies of both ads have been reuploaded by social media users.
The IBC003 platform has also been “updated” with a Raya theme, with the “Selamat Hari Raya Aidilfitri” greeting and images of ketupat on its landing page alongside playing cards, poker chips and two women in sleeveless tops.
IBC003 calls itself “Malaysia’s leading online casino” – a claim also made by GDBet333 – and offers live dealer betting, slot games, lotteries, cockfights and sports betting.
The Vibes on Thursday reported on the contentious GDBet333 commercial, for which many have taken the company to task over the insensitivity shown to Muslims, who are observing the holy fasting month of Ramadan.
The firm has since taken down the video from its website, and its social media accounts have been removed.
Today, police announced the arrest of eight individuals suspected of involvement in the production of the GDBet333 commercial. The ad’s “mastermind” remains at large.
Those detained are said to be the ad’s actors, artistes’ agents, videographer and producer/director, who will be remanded to facilitate the probe under Section 504 of the Penal Code, Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998, and Section 4(1)(g) of the Common Gaming Houses Act 1953.
After the second commercial came to light, Deputy Inspector-General of Police Datuk Seri Acryl Sani Abdullah Sani said cops have been ordered to find out whether other such ads have been produced.
The PNBBC portal quoted him as saying a probe has been initiated into the IBC003 ad.
Police are in the midst of identifying those involved in the commercial, he said, and do not discount the possibility that it is part of a syndicate’s push to promote gambling.
He called on those involved in the production of all such ads to turn themselves in to police. – The Vibes, April 17, 2021
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