GEORGE TOWN: Police have recorded statements from 13 individuals to assist in the investigation into the holding of a dinner function in honour of former Communist Party of Malaya (CPM) members at the Taman Chai Leng multipurpose hall in Perai, near here, last Saturday.
Penang police chief, Datuk Abdul Rahim Hanafi said among those whose statements were recorded, had been involved in organising the function.
“We urge more people including the attendees and members of the public with information on the dinner function to come forward to assist the police investigation,” he said after officiating at a campaign on ‘Combating Violence Against Women’, here, yesterday.
Abdul Rahim said further investigation was being carried out on the case under Section 505(b) of the Penal Code.
He said so far, 22 police reports had been lodged in Penang on the so-called CPM dinner function and two in Johor.
About 800 people, believed to be former CPM insurgents and their family members from Malaysia and Thailand attended the dinner organised by the 21st Century Friendship Association of Malaysia Association on Nov 29.
On a another development, Abdul Rahim said police welcomed information from the public on illegal gambling activities, prostitution and unlicensed entertainment outlets in Penang.
“I urge that the issue not be politicised with regard to enforcement but for the public to cooperate by providing information to police in curbing the illegal activities.
“We have been conducting various operations where we seized 6,000 gambling machines and arrested 441 people involved in these activities,” he said, adding that the operations would continue.
Abdul Rahim was responding to Wednesday’s news reports that Penang Umno Youth had mobilised its members to gather information and evidence on illegal gambling, prostitution and unlicensed entertainment joints in the state.
Its chief, Rafizal Abdul Rahim said all information on these illegal activities would be submitted to the Penang Umno Liaison Committee before being forwarded to Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng.
The issue on such illegal activities was raised by Permatang Pauh Umno division head Datuk Mohd Zaidi Mohd Said at the recent Umno General Assembly. — Bernama