MCA leader urges government to revive elite police units Sting, Stagg and Stafoc

MCA vice-president Lawrence Low has urged the government, particularly the home ministry, to immediately revive three elite police units disbanded in 2018 — the Narcotics Tactical Special Team (Sting), the Special Anti-Vice, Gambling and Gangsterism Task Force (Stagg) and the Special Tactical Organised Crime Team (Stafoc).

Low said the three units were once the "worst nightmare" of criminal syndicates. Their disbandment by the then Pakatan Harapan (PH) government, he said, created a major gap in police tactical and intelligence capabilities to combat organised crime and international drug cartels.

"We are all certainly worried and disappointed with the rising trend of crime cases, especially those involving drug trafficking syndicates and organised crime, which has worsened lately," he said in a Facebook post.

"The gap in specialised enforcement to tackle this issue can no longer be taken lightly by the government."

Low referred to recent cases of Malaysians detained abroad after attempting to smuggle drugs, including a pilot arrested in Indonesia on suspicion of trying to smuggle 26kg of drugs.

"Such incidents clearly show that drug syndicates and organised crime groups are becoming bolder and are no longer afraid of the existing enforcement system," he said.

"Therefore, it is hoped that the Malaysian government, particularly the home ministry, can immediately restore Stagg, Sting and Stafoc."

Background

Stagg was set up to nab the "big fish" involved in local and international vice and gambling syndicates, while Sting targeted the most hardened drug syndicates and pushers. Stafoc was formed to hunt down secret society leaders and those involved in gangsterism and serious crime.

The government disbanded all three units in June 2018, citing overlapping duties that led to finger-pointing among them. The home ministry argued at the time that the disbandment would not lead to a rise in crime rates, but would instead allow for better coordination.

After the change of government, then home minister Hamzah Zainudin said in 2021 that there were no plans to revive the units as there was no need for them.