[Beauseaccerce]

Published: Friday January 7, 2011 MYT 8:03:00 PM

Penang secret societies embroiled in territorial rivalry

By ANN TAN

GEORGE TOWN: Penang police has set up a special task force to look into territorial rivalry among secret society members.

State police chief Deputy Comm Datuk Wira Ayub Yaakob said triad members were trying to expand membership, to the extent of recruiting foreigners including Myanmar nationals.

DCP Ayub reminded business operators, especially those running entertainment outlets, not to seek protection from secret societies.

“Several operators have came forward and supplied notices allegedly distributed by the K24 gang threatening them to pay protection money. “Others who received such threats should come forward and lodge police reports,” he said Friday.

The notice, printed in Chinese, translates: “Gong Xi Fa Cai, on behalf of the K24 gang, we are here to ask for RM500 ang pow money to be given within three days. Failing this, your shop will be shut down, and make sure your people do not come out.”

DCP Ayub said police have so far arrested five suspects and identified eight more who were still at large over the recent gang attack which saw a man’s arm almost severed in front of a hotel in Gurney Drive last Sunday.

“The public are urged to report immediately to the police should they know the whereabouts of these members,” he said, adding that the victim was believed to be a Sio Sam Ong triad member.

In the 3am attack, some 30 men attacked three men and left one of them, a 29-year-old renovation worker, with an almost severed hand. He was found bleeding on the pavement opposite the hotel with multiple injuries.