The Home Ministry has revealed among the active gangs identified were two main Malay secret societies, which were factions of the Pekida Malaysia group.

One of them is the Double 7 gang with 1,053 members. Set up in November 2005, it is active in 28 areas in the peninsula.     

azlan The other group, Tiga Line, which uses the colours of green, blue and red, has 729 active members in 20 areas such as Kuala Lumpur, Kedah, Perak and Selangor. Another Malay gang is the Gang 30.  

Home Ministry secretary-general Abdul Rahim Mohamad Radzi also said among the 49 identified secret societies in the country, the 04 and 08 Gangs headed by members of the Indian community as the two most dangerous and active.     

The 04 Gang had 5,440 active members in Kedah, Penang, Johor and Kuala Lumpur, and involved in drug trafficking, car repossession or worked as car park watchmen, bouncers and protection money collectors, as well as involved in crime using firearms and sharp weapons.      

"The 08 Gang, set up in the 1970's, has 4,423 active members in Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, Penang, Perak, Johor, Negeri Sembilan and Melaka. They also carry out similar activities," he said at a news conference at his office yesterday.     

He said apart from criminal activities, secret societies were also involved in gambling and vice including prostitution.      

The other groups headed by Indians are Gang 21 (with 2,357 Chinese members), Gang 24 (758 Chinese members), Gang 35, Gang 36 (8,512 Chinese members), Gang 03, Gang 38 (Malay and Chinese members) and Gang Satu Hati.      

Groups led by Chinese are Gang 24, Gang 18 (1,209 members), Gang 36, Gang  21, Ang Soon Thong, Wah Kee, Sio Sam Ong, PNEH, Hong Hong San, Hai San, Sin Ang Bin, New Cell 20, Jit It Hai, Sio Koon Tong, Gee Lam Kor, Ger Ah Eng, Loh Kuan, Tiang Yee Tong and Leng Hor Gang, Gang 35 and Gang 303.       

The active gangs in Sabah are Atap, Hung Ann, Sui Yuk, Otai and Borneo Red EMP.      

In Sarawak, the gangs were identified as Ah Ngau, Batu Tiga, Ah Feng, Batu 10, Sibu Ti, Ah Seng, Ah Chin, Lee Lung, Lo Han, Sg Merah, Sg Badut, Ting Ching Lee, Teksi Station, Pintu Merah and Krokop.      

"In Sarawak, they controlled the price of essential items like eggs at one time," said Abd Rahim.      

He said the Indians made up the largest number of secret society members at 28,926, Chinese (8,214), Malays (1,923), Sarawakians (921) and Sabahans (329).      

"As such, it is an offence to use banners, logos and symbols of these illegal societies," he said.     

On secret society masterminds, he said police would be investigating the matter even though the heads kept on changing.      

He said police would also investigate links between gangsterism among school students and secret society activities.     

- Bernama

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