1,200 Penang gangsters in hiding

GEORGE TOWN - Some 1,200 triad members have gone into hiding after Penang police mounted continuous raids to catch them.

Penang police chief Datuk Abdul Rahim Hanafi said since Op Cantas was launched on Aug 17, more than 300 gang members had been rounded up.

"We will continue to keep them off the streets," he said after witnessing the handing-over of duties between his outgoing deputy, Datuk Abdul Rahim Jaafar, and new deputy Datuk A. Thaiveegan yesterday.

Rahim Jaafar will be the new Selangor deputy police chief from tomorrow in a straight swap with Thaiveegan.

Rahim Hanafi said since during the first eight months of this year, Penang's crime index had dropped to 3.2 per cent, compared with 20 per cent during the corresponding period last year. However, despite the drop, police still considered the crime rate high, he added.