Home Ministry declares war on 49 outlawed gangs

The Home Ministry today declared war on 49 gangs as unlawful under the Societies Act 1966, setting the stage for a possible clampdown.

The list includes some of the most active gangs concentrated in Kuala Lumpur and Johor, said the ministry in a statement today.

"The home minister declared 49 secret societies around the country as organisations that have contravened Section 5(1) of the Societies Act 1966 on August 28.

"These secret societies ... carry out activities that threaten the country's peace, such as drug syndicates, extortion, inter-gang confrontations, cause trouble and murder using firearms or sharp objects such as machetes, knives, nails and others," read the statement.

Among the actions that the ministry can take is seizure of the organisations' accounts and assets to be wound up by the Insolvency Department. 

According to Bernama, he secret societies identified are:

- Gang 04 which is active in Kedah, Penang, Johor and Kuala Lumpur.

- Gang 08 which is active in Kuala Lumpur,  Selangor, Penang, Perak, Johor, Negeri Sembilan and Malacca.

- Double 7 which is active in the peninsula.

- Tige Line which is active in 20 areas in Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, Kedah and Perak.

- Gang 30 which is active in the peninsula.

- Gang 38 which is active in 14 areas in Kepong, Jinjang and Setapak in the Kuala Lumpur and in Johor Baharu, Johor).

- Gang 24 (in six areas in Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, Penang, Perak and Johor).

- Gang 18 (in eight areas in Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, Perak and Johor).

- Gang 36 (Perak, Malacca, Negeri Sembilan, Selangor and Kuala Lumpur).

Other secret societies identified in the peninsula are Gee Ah Eng, Loh Kuan, Tiang Yee Tong, Gang 21, Ang Soon Thong, Wah Kee, Sio Sam Ong, PNEH, Hong Hong San, Hai San, Sin Ang Bin, New Cell 20, Jit It Hai, Sio Koon Tong, Gee Lam Kor, Gee Leng Hor, Geng 35, Geng 303 and Geng Satu Hati.

In Sabah, the secret societies identified are ATAP, Hung Ann, Sui Yuk, Otai and Borneo Red EMP.

In Sarawak, they are Ah Ngau, Batu Tiga, Ah Feng, Batu 10, Sibu T, Ah Seng, Ah Chin, Lee Lung, Lo Han, Sg Merab, Sg Badut, Ting Ching Lee, Tua Cak Lee, Teksi Station, Pintu Merah and Krokop.

With the announcement, Abdul Rahim said no person would be allowed to register the secret societies as an organisation.