PKR's Kuala Sepetang assemblyperson Chua Yee Ling has lashed out at Umno for apparently fuelling claims of the mafia running rampant in the fishing village, which she says is hurting tourism.

In a statement today, Chua told Bukit Gantang Umno not to sabotage eco-tourism in Kuala Sepetang after its division chief, Syed Abu Hussin Hafiz Syed Abdul Fasal, yesterday led a delegation to the village and urged tough action from the Home Ministry.

"I appreciate any quarter trying to help pay attention to Kuala Sepetang, but Bukit Gantang Umno's method was irresponsible.

"If indeed there have been complaints from villagers about mafia activities, I recommend Syed Abu to represent the villagers and lodge a police report so that a detailed investigation can be conducted," she said in a statement today.

Syed Abu had reportedly said he had received complaints of such activities and that the villagers were afraid to come forward on the matter.

However, Chua ( right ) stressed that allegations of organised crimes were not true.

She cited inspector-general of police Khalid Abu Bakar, who said yesterday there was crime in the area but denied the presence of "the mafia".

She added the such speculation by Umno would only create a negative perception, which would hurt the constituency's booming tourism industry.

Kuala Sepetang, formerly known as Port Weld, is a coastal town in Perak and is located around 15km west of the Taiping.

Utusan Malaysia last Saturday claimed Kuala Sepetang to be a safe haven for criminals where the mafia was in “full control”.

It claimed that criminals were smuggling weapons, cigarettes, alcohol and diesel there as well as possible drug smuggling and manufacturing activities.