Op Cantas Khas: Malays form majority - Wan Junaidi

The Malays formed the largest number of people arrested during ‘Op Cantas Khas’ conducted throughout the country on 17 August and 13 November last year, said Deputy Home Minister Datuk Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar.

Wan Junaidi said a total of 807,016 inspections were carried out during ‘Op Cantas’ with a total of 29,627 people arrested.

He added that from the total, 12,645 were Malays, 6,770 Indians , 3,477 Chinese and 6,735 from other races.

He hoped that with the disclosure of the statistics, it can dispel the perception of some people that the Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM) conducted the ‘Op Cantas Khas’ based on skin colour.

“Many of the arrested are the Malays. So I do not agree with some who said that this (‘Op Cantas Khas’) targeted a single ethnicity , that the Minister is colour blind. It does not select anyone in particular.

"Police follow the triad’s movements. So this is to deny any allegations that convenience was given to triad groups. That's not right," he said in a special interview with Astro AWANI at his office here on Thursday.

During ‘Op Cantas Khas’, police also seized 874 types of firearms and confiscated explosives.

Ammunition is the most widely confiscated explosives including 2,127 bullets, 45 guns, 32 homemade air guns, 6 shotgun barrels and a hand grenade.

Among the weapons confiscated were 291 knives and 235 machetes.

To elaborate further, he added that since ‘Op Cantas Khas’ was conducted, the crime rate shows a sharp decline in all cases of violence and thefts.

"I am confident that with the cooperation of all parties , the crime rate in Malaysia will continue to decline, " he said.