‘Ex-cons face obstacles to lead normal life’

Most ex-criminals who are used to a luxurious lifestyle cannot lead a normal life and even if they wanted to, cannot get jobs, says Perak police chief DSP Mohd Shukri Dahlan.

KUALA LUMPUR: It is not easy for ex-criminals to lead a normal life because many cannot get jobs and this is the reason they go back to their old ways, said Perak police chief DSP Comm Mohd Shukri Dahlan.

He said ex-criminals were also used to a lavish lifestyle and could not cope with leading a normal life.

“They have lost everything and cannot get a job and the only option they have is to go back to crime,” Shukri said in a phone interview this morning.

However, Shukri added that the Perak police had already set up a task force to monitor those who returned to crime.

“Since the dissolution of Emergency Ordinance, we have created a task force to check on ex-convicts. Based on our investigations we find that there are ex-convicts who rejoin their gangs,” he said.

Shuki said the recent violence in Perak was a fight between gangs to claim territory.

“It is gang rivalry. These gangs are dealing in drugs thus it is important for them to establish a territory for their illegal business,” he added.

Daring gangsters

Meanwhile, national MIC youth secretary-general C Sivaraaj said the Perak government and the police had devised a strategy to curb the recent fighting between triad groups.

The special officer to the Perak Menteri Besar added that the strategy would be executed after Hari Raya.

“I have personally met the Perak deputy police chief to talk about the issue. These gangs are not necessarily from Perak, some are from other states, too,” he said.

Batu Gajah MP V Sivakumar told FMT that the gangs in Perak were more daring now, referring to an incident in Ipoh where a mob leader opened fire during a funeral involving one of its members.

“These groups used to hide their identity but now they are not afraid of the authorities,” he said.

Sivakumar said more policemen were needed in certain departments to tackle crime.