The war of words between Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and PKR vice-president N Surendran over the police crackdown on gangsters continues with Surendran questioning why so few have been charged.

NONE Contrary to the minister's claim, Surendran insisted that the dragnet, codenamed "Ops Cantas", was a publicity stunt.

"It is astonishing that hardly anyone has been charged despite the enormous number of arrests.

"The efficacy of crime prevention cannot be gauged simply by the number of arrests made," he said in a statement today.

The police announced on Sept 9 that some 5,505 people have been arrested under Ops Cantas but the number of those charged with any offence remains sketchy.

As of Aug 28, Kuala Lumpur police said 27 people were charged while Johor police said 82 were charged in the state.

Surendran said a genuine fight against crime was for the police's resources and assets to be maximised and rationalised.

"I reiterate to the home minister that he must stop treating crime prevention as a government public relations exercise; instead he must increase the professionalism and capability of our police force in tackling crime," he said.

 

Yesterday, Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi blasted Surendran for suggesting that the crackdown was a publicity stunt.

In a blistering retort, the minister told the opposition leader "to go back to school" if he could not understand the issue.