New elite police force to net 'sharks'

KUALA LUMPUR: The Special Task Force for Anti-Vice, Gaming and Gangsterism (STAGG), an elite federal police team, will mainly go after the "sharks" of illegal activities rather than the "smaller fish" often reported held by the authorities.
Home Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said today he agreed with news reports that the main operators and kingpins (sharks) behind vice, gambling and gangsterism runners appear to escape the full brunt of the law, leaving their downliners (runners) to face action by the authorities.
"I agree that the ikan jerung (sharks) must also be dealt with. In past operations, the public see that only the ikan bilis (anchovies) were caught. I am very confident that with the special task force, police will manage to net these sharks and drag them to court, " he said today after launching STAGG at the Forestry Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM).
Ahmad Zahid said STAGG has 200 specially-trained personnel handpicked from thousands of candidates as well as 20 civilian staff who will carry out administration duties.
It will be headed by a deputy commissioner and his deputy, a senior assistant commissioner.
DCP Datuk Rodwan Mohd Yusof, who will head STAGG, said the personnel will be based in Bukit Aman but will be called to carry out special operations throughout the country.
The federal police force has two other elite task teams formed earlier this year, namely the Special Tactical Intelligence Narcotics Group (STING), for drug-related activities and the Special Task Force On Organised Crimes (Stafoc) to counter gangland activities.