‘Don’t give in to gangsters’

Contractors carrying out renovation works are constantly forced to pay protection fees by thugs who are becoming increasingly daring. —filepic

SAMSURI (not his real name) is a contractor who does home renovations in Klang.

Every two weeks, he will list down the amount he has to pay his workers as well as the plumber, carpenter, bricklayers, tilers and so on.

In addition, he also writes down “Mat Selamat/RM500” — referring to the protection money to be paid to a local thug.

Samsuri, an Indonesian who is married to a Malaysian, told StarMetro that he pays protection fees to thugs in Sungai Udang, Kampong Delek and Kampong Raja Uda so that he can proceed with the work he was engaged to do.

“I have been in this business for 25 years and protection fees come with the territory.

“In 2001, when I started on my own, I had to make a deal with the thugs, similar to what my former boss had to do.

“I am unable to continue in this business if I do not pay them protection fees,” he said.

Thugs inform small contractors on their turf, how much fee is expected and the due date.

Failure to make payment will result in contractors being harassed by the thugs.

Samsuri said he ran into financial difficulties a few years ago when prices for building materials shot up.

He was not able to pay the protection fees for two months while doing waterproofing work on three houses.

“Thugs harassed my workers and even carted away boxes of tiles and took the ceramic tile cutter.

“I had to get help from a friend to settle the protection fees.

ACP shamsul says those threatened should lodge police reports.

“Once I paid up, the tiles and cutter were returned to me,” he said.

Now, he just hands over the cash in an envelope to the thugs whenever they turn up at the renovation site.

Retiree C.C. Chan who had called two Indonesian workers to change a rusted back gate and replace several broken kitchen tiles at Taman Setia off Persiaran Raja Muda Musa, was asked to pay RM330 if he wanted the work to continue.

When he refused, the three thugs shouted obscenities, kicked the wall and threatened to damage the new gate. Fearing for his family’s safety, Chan gave in to the demands.

Arthur, a pensioner living in Taman Setia, about 3km from the South Klang Police Headquarters at Jalan Gedung Raja Abdullah, said the thugs were becoming more daring.

“Each time renovation works begin, they will turn up and demand a fee. They say the area is under their control,” he said.

South Klang OCPD Asst Comm Shamsul Amar Ramli said extortion was a crime.

“Instilling fear in someone with the intent to compel them to turn over cash or personal possessions is a form of theft.

“Based on the police reports lodged, extortion cases involving house renovations are happening.

“In 2017, we received five cases. Three reports came from contractors and the others from houseowners.”

In 2018, four cases were lodged by contractors.

ACP Shamsul Amar said 11 men were arrested following investigations.

He added that the police viewed such cases seriously.

“The cases were investigated under Section 384 and 385 of the Penal Code for extortion.”

He advised contractors and houseowners not to pay any money to anyone claiming to offer protection.

“We have cases of repeat offenders and this is where the Prevention of Crime Act 1959 can be used to banish them,” he said.

So far, no one has lodged reports this year about extortion cases in relation to home renovations.

Anyone who has been threatened should lodge a report so the police can investigate.

They should email kpdklangs@rmp.gov.my or call 03-3376 2222.

Pandamaran assemblyman Tony Leong Tuck Chee said he received complaints from  about the threats and he advised them to lodge police reports.

He also advised residents to join residents associations in their area and neighbourhood watch to deal with the issue more effectively.

“People can email me at adunn47pandamaran@gmail.com and lodge a police report.

“I will follow up with the authorities. All of us need to work together to fight criminal intimidation,” said Leong.-Star