Perak police: Kuala Sepetang peaceful fishing town, not controlled by mafia

The fishing town of Kuala Sepetang - File pix

IPOH: The police have refuted a news report that Kuala Sepetang was being overrun by mafia groups.

Acting Perak police chief Deputy Comm Datuk A. Paramasivam said the small fishing town was peaceful and its crime activities insignificant.

"We are not denying that there are crime activities like smuggling or drugs there.

"It is, however, not as feared and worrisome," he told a press conference here on Tuesday.

"I can't promise zero crime because there will be crime activities. We will manage them," he added.

A Malay daily has on Sunday published an article that mafia activities were rampant in the area, comprising the township of Kuala Sepetang, Bagan Panchor and Pulau Kuala Sangga.

In the report, it was alleged that various crime activities there, including smuggling, drug trafficking, gambling, encroachment into government land and intrusion by illegal immigrants were being controlled by influential syndicates.

DCP Paramasivam said the word "mafia" was too harsh and would scare tourists from visiting Kuala Sepetang.

"As of today, we have yet to receive any reports from tourists that they were threatened or robbed," he added.