PUTRAJAYA: Home Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin today issued a stern warning to Tonto syndicates, telling them not to get in the way of law enforcement agencies.
He said the police were aware of the tontos and would take action against them, if they prevented enforcement agencies, including the Malaysian Border Security Agency (MBSA), from carrying out their duties.
“Police have the right to take action against them (the tontos) if they get in the way by becoming agents to create trouble and prevent enforcement agencies from carrying out their duties,” Muhyiddin said after presenting Datuk Mazlan Mansor with his appointment letter as the new deputy inspector-general of police.
“For the Border Security Agency and police, their duties are to make sure there are no smuggling activities taking place at our borders and no laws are violated.
“Also, the tontos issues are not new to me.
“I had dealt with them when I was the domestic trade and consumer affairs minister.
“The police know about them.
“So, don’t make any trouble for those who are safeguarding our borders. They (the tontos) have no right (to do so).”
Muhyiddin was responding to news reports that the tonto syndicates were getting more brazen and were fixing global positioning system (GPS) devices on vehicles belonging to the MBSA to track the movements of enforcement personnel stationed at the nation’s borders.
Tonto syndicates comprise individuals who trail enforcement officers to tip off wrongdoers.
MBSA director-general Datuk Shaharuddin Abu Sohot was quoted as saying that GPS devices were found on the rear bumpers of three MBSA vehicles earlier this year.
He said all of MBSA vehicles had undergone a thorough inspection to ensure that there were such no devices.
Shaharuddin did not deny the possibility that the GPS devices were installed when MBSA sent its vehicles for servicing and maintenance.
It was reported that the tontos’ threat to border enforcement personnel was apparent when a female customs officer Anisah Ali, died in an alleged mishap in 2016.
Anisah, 54, and her two colleagues were trailing a vehicle which was suspected to be carrying smuggled cigarettes when the incident took place.
Their vehicle was hit by a four-wheel drive vehicle, believed to belong to tontos, in Banggol Chicha, Pasir Mas, Kelantan.