KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 24- Home Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi denied today that the special Ops Cantas implemented to catch secret society and gang members would be halted on Oct 19.
He told the Dewan Rakyat that the operation would be continued to ensure safety and until people’s fear of crime was allayed.
As of Sept 18, 212,259 secret society suspects were detained and screened, he noted.
“A total of 8,898 individuals were arrested with 289 fire arms and weapons seized. The violent crimes index was reduced to almost 42 percent from 69 cases to 40 during the month-long operation,” he replied to a question from Lim Lip Eng (DAP-Segambut) at the Parliament here.
The police launched Ops Cantas on Aug 17 and published a list of 49 banned secret society groups on Aug 30.
He also informed the Dewan Rakyat that so far 214 investigations had been started under the Societies Act 1966 and 46 cases under the Prevention of Crime Act 1959.
He added that societies registered under the Registrar of Societies by former secret society members would be monitored continuously as well.
“Action will be taken if their activities are still the same as before,” he responded to a supplementary question by Datuk Dr Wee Ka Siong (BN-Ayer Hitam).
– BERNAMA
