KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 29 — Putrajaya’s release today of 49 secret societies nationwide is not a “witch hunt” but marks its commitment to cut the rising crime rate, Datuk Seri Najib Razak (picture) said today.

The prime minister came out strongly in support of the Home Ministry’s list of some 40,313 people it identified to be members of 49 organisations declared illegal, saying it was what the public wanted and a must for the nation’s peace.

“It is not a witch-hunt. It is desired by the people.

“If we want to live in a country free from crime, then we need to do this,” he was reported by The Star Online as saying in Putrajaya.

Following an alarming rise in shootings and gun violence, police launched a nationwide crackdown earlier this month, dubbed “Ops Cantas”, in a bid to curtail the apparent surge.

The operation led to the arrests of nearly 700 individuals up to Tuesday, as the police dusted off the Prevention of Crime Acts 1959 that allows for arrests without warrants and detention without trial in the efforts to rein in what they allege to be an increase in gangland activity following the repeal of the Emergency Ordinance in 2011.

According to The Star Online, Home Ministry secretary-general Datuk Abdul Rahim Mohd Radzi said some of the organisations dealt heavily in drug distribution, extortion and the use of firearms that have been linked to the recent spate gun murders nationwide.

As such, they were in breach of section 5 (1) of the Societies Act 1966, through a gazette which came into effect yesterday.

Under the section of law prescribed in the gazette, those found using the names, symbols or premises, or identified themselves as members of any of the 49 organisations would be arrested; all assets belonging to these organisations will also be seized and handed to the Insolvency Department.

Among the secret societies on the Home Ministry’s list are:

● Gang 04, which is active in Kedah, Penang, Johor and Kuala Lumpur.

● Gang 08, which is active in Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, Penang, Perak, Johor, Negeri Sembilan and Malacca.

● Double 7, which is active in the peninsula.

● Tige Line, which is active in 20 areas in Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, Kedah and Perak.

● Gang 30, which is active in Peninsular Malaysia.

● Gang 38, which is active in 14 areas in the national capital here, namely Kepong, Jinjang and Setapak, and in Johor Baru.

● Gang 24, which is active in Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, Penang, Perak and Johor.

● Gang 18, which is active in Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, Perak and Johor.

● Gang 36, which is active in Perak, Malacca, Negeri Sembilan, Selangor and Kuala Lumpur.

In Peninsular Malaysia, the other organisations implicated are Gee Ah Eng, Loh Kuan, Tiang Yee Tong, Gang 21, Ang Soon Thong, Wah Kee, Sio Sam Ong, PNEH, Hong Hong San, Hai San, Sin Ang Bin, New Cell 20, Jit It Hai, Sio Koon Tong, Gee Lam Kor, Gee Leng Hor, Geng 35, Geng 303 and Geng Satu Hati.

The Home Ministry named ATAP, Hung Ann, Sui Yuk, Otai and Borneo Red EMP as the organisations in prevalent in Sabah.

And in Sarawak , they are Ah Ngau, Batu Tiga, Ah Feng, Batu 10, Sibu T, Ah Seng, Ah Chin, Lee Lung, Lo Han, Sg Merab, Sg Badut, Ting Ching Lee, Tua Cak Lee, Teksi Station, Pintu Merah and Krokop.