Bogus Cop Alert

Michael Chong: 'I've never heard of the Malaysian Special Ranger Agency'
By RASHVINJEET S.BEDI and IVAN LOH

PETALING JAYA: Datuk Seri Michael Chong has been inundated with calls asking about a uniformed body, the Malaysian Special Ranger Agency, that apparently does not exist.

However, the MCA Public Services and Complaints Department head said that he had never heard of such a group, and urged the public to be wary of anyone claiming to represent it.

"I got many enquiries from the public after the case came out in the media. I don't want the public to be misled by such groups. The public is very confused now,” said Chong.

Chong began receiving calls after a report in The Star on an alleged assault on a Dr Balraj Singh in Ipoh by the police, who claimed he was a member of the group.

He also urged the IGP and the Home Ministry to investigate the existence of the group.

Checks by The Star Online showed that there was not much information about the group available online, but there was a Facebook page for the Malaysian Special Ranger Agency in Johor.

In its description, it claimed that it was established under "Akta Amanah 258/1952 di Jabatan Perdana Menteri Bahagian Hal Ehwal Undang-Undang".

However, a check revealed that Act 258 was the Trustees (Incorporation) Act 1952 (Revised 1981), which provided for the incorporation of the trustees, and not for the formation of a uniformed volunteer group.

Pictures from its Facebook page showed several people wearing uniforms similar to that of the dark blue garb of the police. Other pictures showed the group conducting self-defence training sessions. The last Facebook post of the group was made in September last year.

Another post in August last year stated that they were a "volunteer social services NGO" which assists governmental agencies whenever the need arose.

"Besides fighting crime, fire fighting, medic, road safety, social welfare, etc... to let members excels or support the team," it commented on the same post when quizzed on its role by a member of the public.

Perak deputy state police chief Senior Asst Comm Datuk A.Paramasivam said they were investigating the existence of the group and its function.

"No one is allowed to do policing on their own. If they want to assist the police, there has to be the presence of a policeman," said Paramasivam, who is investigating the Balraj case.

When contacted, Dr Balraj maintained the group existed and that he had the necessary and supporting documents from the Home Ministry to prove it.

He also said he had a letter of support from Bukit Aman police for the group's public safety activities.

He added that his lawyer is in the process of collecting the necessary documents before the next course of action.

When contacted, a Home Ministry official said she was not aware of any such agency under it.

Dr Balraj was alleged to have impersonated a policeman to extort money from a businessman in Ipoh on May 12 at about 4.25am.

http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=%2F2013%2F6%2F6%2Fnation%2F20130606201300&sec=nation