Chandra (second from right), deputy city police chief Superintendent Mohd Azhar Hamin (second from left), DSP Kalsom Idris (right) and a police officer showing the illegal money lending posters.
KOTA KINABALU: Police have removed 1,546 posters put up by illegal money lenders or ‘Ah Long’ in the city this year.
City police chief ACP M. Chandra said under the police carried out an operation codenamed ‘Ops Vulture’ to take 726 illegal posters in January, 252 in February and 568 in March.
“From the numbers, 726 illegal posters have been handed to the City Hall for further action while the rest will be handed over after we have completed our investigation,” he said at a press conference at the city police headquarters in Karamunsing here yesterday.
Meanwhile, Chandra said the police would be working with the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) to identify and cancel 124 phone numbers that were displayed on the illegal posters.
Chandra said the operation would be carried out from time to time to curb illegal money laundering activities by loan sharks and to educate the public about the consequences of borrowing from unlicensed moneylenders.
“Police would not hesitate to take stern action against anyone caught involved in illegal money laundering activity and they can be charged under Section 5 (2) of the Money Lenders Act 1951,” he said.