Every gang has its own assassin, says ex-gang member

A former member of an underworld gang operating in the federal city, who wants to be identified only as Dino, said those called 'Fin' were violent and had no sympathy for anyone on their target 'list'.

"'Fin' means an end in Latin and that is what they will do on a victim. They are regarded as suicide commandos in carrying out every instruction or assignment given," he told Bernama recently.

The 32-year-old man, currently working as a nightclub bouncer, said almost every gang he knew had its own assassin.

He suspected that a 'Fin' was behind the murder of a man who was believed to have been the leader of a gang dubbed, 'Satu Hati', in Setapak last Wednesday.

"It is the job of a 'Fin' to scare off members of another gang who might want to intrude into a certain 'territory'," said Dino.

He said such 'territories' were also known as 'ports' and the gang would collect protection money from traders, as well as operate various illegal business activities in the area.

"Gang war occurs when a gang tries to take over the 'port' of other gangs. Fights happen almost every week. Usually, only sharp weapons were used in fights but lately, more gangs own firearms because they are cheap and easily obtained.

"Most of them obtain the firearms from Thailand, which were smuggled in through 'jalan tikus' (rat's trail) at a price of between RM1,000 and RM20,000, depending on type," he said.

Relating his past, Dino said he had joined a gang about five years ago as he was jobless at the time.

"Initially, I was not interested in joining the gang but I needed the money. In fact, I was also influenced by a local film on gang-related activities at that time.