PUTRAJAYA: The two special squads which form the Bukit Aman elite force are prepared to face retaliation from the underworld following the identification of 49 triads that have been gazetted as unlawful.
One of the squads, codenamed Charlie, will be tasked with tackling serious crimes while the other, known as Delta, will deal with narcotic offences, said Home Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
He was certain there would be retaliation from the gangs whose activities have been exposed.
“But this will not stop the force from acting against triad members.
“We will not tolerate any party challenging the police. We must enforce the law without fear or favour,” he said, stressing that support from the public was vital in combating crime.
Ahmad Zahid said the cases involving secret societies were due to fights over territory and revenge against witnesses who had testified against them leading to their detention under the Emergency Ordinance (EO) and the Restricted Residence Act.
“Some of the murders are professional hits for financial gains. We are ready and prepared to act against the gangs through the special squads,” he told The Star.
The squads announced last week consist of the creme de la creme of police personnel in CID and narcotics which Bukit Aman had set up following the recent spate of serious crimes.
Ahmad Zahid said the leaders of the 49 gangs gazetted as unlawful had either been previously arrested under the EO or Restricted Residence Act.
He also said that an additional 50,000 auxiliary police would be recruited by the end of the year to boost security and crime fighting.