Police have successfully arrested 18,349 suspected gang members from various outlawed groups.

These gang leaders or members were arrested between Aug 17 and Oct 13 under the Operasi Cantas Khas (Ops Cantas) crackdown, said Home Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi in a Parliamentary reply to Segambut MP Lim Lip Eng in the Dewan Rakyat Thursday.

Lim had asked the Government to state the definition of 40,313 Malaysians who were listed as gang members and why they were not arrested yet.

In his reply, Ahmad Zahid said the police were still in the process of identifying the roles of these individuals in those banned societies or organisations.

“The total number of 40,313 in gangs refer to those who are part of the 49 gangs or society that were banned under the Societies Act 1966,” he said.

“The figure was obtained from intelligence as well as statements from gang members and heads after they were arrested under the Emergency Ordinance 1969 before it was abolished and through other police operations."

Zahid said as long as the authorities obtained adequate evidence against those arrested and it was agreed by the Attorney-General’s Chambers, they would face charges in court.

“The allegation that the police have not arrested these gang members is baseless,” he added.