MCA veep calls for return of elite police units scrapped in 2018

 Lawrence Low says the specialist police units, disbanded by the PH-led government, should be brought back to strengthen the fight against organised crime.

The special task force for anti-vice, gaming and gangsterism, or Stagg, was formed to catch ‘big fish’ involved in local and international vice syndicates. (Bernama pic)

PETALING JAYA:

An MCA leader has urged the government to reinstate three elite police units that were disbanded in 2018, saying their absence has weakened the fight against organised crime and drug syndicates.

MCA vice-president Lawrence Low said the special tactical intelligence narcotics group (Sting), special task force for anti-vice, gaming and gangsterism (Stagg) and special task force on organised crime (Stafoc) were once the “worst nightmare” for organised crime syndicates.

He added that their abolition in 2018 by the then Pakatan Harapan-led government created a major gap in the police force’s tactical and intelligence capabilities to combat organised crime and international drug cartels.

“We are all concerned and disappointed by the rising trend in crime, particularly cases involving drug trafficking syndicates and organised crime, which have become increasingly serious in recent times.

“The gaps in enforcement to address these issues can no longer be ignored by the government,” he said in a Facebook post.

Low cited recent cases of Malaysians being arrested abroad after attempting to smuggle drugs, including a pilot who was nabbed in Indonesia for allegedly trying to smuggle 26kg of drugs.

“These incidents clearly show that drug syndicates and organised crime groups are becoming increasingly bold and are no longer afraid of the existing enforcement system.

“The re-establishment of these three units is critical at this time to strengthen integrated tactical operations against drug trafficking syndicates,” said Low.

Stagg was formed to catch “big fish” involved in local as well as international vice and gambling syndicates, while Sting targeted the most notorious drug syndicates and drug barons.

Stafoc was formed to go after underworld kingpins and those involved in gangsterism and other serious crimes.

The government disbanded the three units in June 2018, citing overlaps in duties which escalated into finger-pointing among them.

The home ministry argued that the disbandment would not lead to a rise in crime but would actually allow for better coordination.

After the change in government, then home minister Hamzah Zainudin said in 2021 that there were no plans to revive the three units as there was no need to do so. - FMT