There is no truth to allegations that Op Cantas, the police codename for a crackdown on gangsterism, was a racist operation as five times more Malays were arrested than Indians, Inspector-general of Police(IGP) said today.

NONE IGP Khalid Abu Bakar (right ) said the public should not make "naughty comments" that the police cross-hairs were on a certain race.

"Malays formed the bulk of those arrested," Khalid told reporters in Jalan Kuchai Lama, while launching a safety initiative in collaboration with Petron petrol stations.

"We caught about 15,000 Malays compared to over 3,000 Indians. More than 15,000 Malays were arrested ... is that racist?" he asked reporters.

Khalid said of those taken under the operation, police have so far identified at least 130 people marked for prosecution under the Societies Act (1966), while 56 others would be charged under the Prevention of Crime Act (1959).

The ongoing Ops Cantas, which began on 17 August, is aimed at combating gangsterism.

Papagomo also probed for racist postings

On another issue, Khalid also said police had investigated controversial blogger Papagomo based on reports that he had made racist remarks on the internet.

Papagomo was identified as ex-police officer Wan Muhammad Azri Wan Deris, a former police officer by the Kuala Lumpur High Court yesterday and ordered to pay RM500,000 in a defamation suit. 

"Of course, (the reports against him) have been investigated, and further action will be taken ... any avenue under the law that we can use, we will use," said Khalid.