Ops Cantas screened 1.1m Malaysians

PDRM will introduce an improvised and tougher tactic next year to curb crime further

KUALA LUMPUR: Within four months of Ops Cantas, 1.1 million Malaysians have been screened under the special operation to curb violent crimes; and from that number, 39,097 individuals have been arrested.

However, a tougher and an improvised tactic will be implemented starting next year in order to reduce the crime rate and gun violence amongst underworld syndicates.

“We will come up with a new series of Ops Cantas with additional new tactics. But we can’t reveal it now,” Inspector General of Police Khalid Abu Bakar said when approached.

Speaking to the media, Khalid affirmed that the Ops Cantas was a success as it has brought down a significant percentage of crime rate compared to last year’s statistic.

The top cop also said that they have managed to seized 1160 weapons and recovered 1632 stolen vehicles during the Ops.

“Til this date, we have brought down the crime rate to -7 percent. We arrested 39,097 people, 41 are detained under the Preventive Crime Act (PCA), 30 are currently being put under restricted order, 11 are still being detained for investigation. The rest of the figure have been released,”

“57 more individuals will soon be arrested as we believed that they are involved in syndicate and violent crimes,” Khalid said.

“We have also inspected 655,118 vehicles during roadblocks and recovered 1632 vehicles. For weapons, we confiscated 58 pistols, air guns and air rifles. 46 shotguns and six hand grenades,”he added.

New PCA to be gazetted

Khalid also assured reporters that he is looking forward for the new PCA act to be gazetted and said that he hopes it would be completed by the end of this year.

Ops Cantas was first launched on August 17 after a series of gun related violence had terrorized the country with several death cases reported involving underworld gang members.

Since then, police have began cracking down notorious gang groups in several shootouts causing an uproar among pro human rights groups and lawyers who deemed the action as a ‘shooting spree’ conducted by the police force.

The Home Ministry supported the action carried out by the police and a new law – Preventive Crime Act was introduced to replace the abolished Internal Security Act (ISA).

The new law was not well received by ordinary Malaysians as it is seen as a revival of the old ISA act which legitimize  detention without trial.