Malaysian police are on the alert after tip offs that gangs were planning a spate of bank robberies and extortion rackets during the Lunar New Year festive period, a report said Saturday.

Police believe gangs were regrouping and gangsters who had fled the country were planning to return for the raids, Federal Criminal Investigations Department Director Salleh Mat Som told the New Straits Times daily.

"We are aware that some of these people are planning to regroup and strike during this time," he was quoted as saying.

Cover for crimes

Police would be checking places frequented earlier by these criminals, he said.

Salleh said the trend was for criminals to reorganise and use major festivals, like the Lunar New Year - which this year begins on January 22 - as covers for their crimes.

"We are ready to meet them and are warning them not to commit any crime, especially serious ones such as kidnapping ... " he said. "We have zero tolerance for criminals using firearms." - AFP