JOHOR BARU: Johor police have detected infiltration of secret societies actively recruiting secondary school students to join their groups.
Johor police chief Datuk Kamarul Zaman Mamat said students being forced to join secret societies are believed to be recruited to engage in criminal activities, including drug trafficking.
He said the suspicion was confirmed when they received two reports of students being beaten and forced to join two secret societies known as 'Hong Hong San Gang' and 'Ngo Sek Kee Gang' in the state recently.
"The activity of secret society recruitment of our schoolboys seems to have just happened recently, so far two reports were received and there may be more cases but go unreported.
"The underworld is believed to be targeting students in urban areas, as opposed to rural areas. Police hope the victims, teachers and parents will be aware and report to police if such incidents happen," he said at a press conference after the Johor Criminal Investigation Department head's handover of duties ceremony here today.
Also present was Johor deputy police chief Deputy Commissioner M. Kumar.
Kamarul Zaman said police have their ears on the ground to actively monitor activities of secret societies in the state, and thus urged schools to pass on information to the school liaison officer (PPS) to deal with such cases.
"We see now that secret societies have dared to rear their ugly head again by boldly encroaching schools to recruit students to join their gangs.
"So my advice to teachers in particular is to report to the police, because there are liaison officers in schools, so please pass on the information," he said.
He said at the same time, in the case of the 'Hong Hong San Gang' and 'Ngo Sek Kee Gang' who recruited students, a total of six men involved in the case were charged under Section 323 of the Penal Code and Section 45 of the Organisation Act 1966 in the Muar Magistrate's Court on Oct 17.
He said two of them who had pleaded guilty were fined RM3,000 each. -- Bernama
