NEW MAN IN-CHARGE: Wan Mazlan (left) hands over the transfer document to Kushairy while Shafie (second right) and Zayadi look on.
SIBU: Local police chief ACP Shafie Ismail says Sibu is free from any secret society, refuting claim by the Home Affairs Ministry on Aug 29 that one has its base here.
He said if there were any, it would be probably be a disorganised gang whose members could be anyone including those from rural areas.
“They are usually involved in petty illegal activities such as gambling, logging and smuggling.
“It is from such activities they could attract followers,” he said, adding there were distinctive differences between the disorganised gangs and organised underground societies.
Organised gangs, he said, had their own hierarchy, membership fees and a ritual to follow for the new members.
He said organised gangs in Sibu were no longer active and their activities had completely stopped. Some members had left Sibu to other places including overseas while many had started doing some legal businesses.
“Nevertheless, we are monitoring their movements,” he told reporters after witnessing the handing over of duty between Inspector Wan Mazlan Wan Abdul Rahman and Inspector Kushairi Bujang, 37, a former traffic officer at Kuching police headquarters, who is now officer in-charge of Sibu Jaya police station.
Wan Mazlan is transferred to Kuala Langat police station in Selangor.
Also present was deputy Sibu police chief Supt Zayadi Sebeli.