MIC man denies being gang leader, threatens legal action against Home Ministry

"I am not a gang leader!"

This is the defiant cry from Kalai Arasu Muniandy (pic), who was named the leader of Gang 36 in a list released by the Home Ministry yesterday.

The 42-year old insisted that he has no criminal record and blamed political rivals for linking him to secret societies, saying that it has damaged his reputation.

Kalai Arasu is a MIC Youth exco member and the party’s Hulu Langat division youth chief. He joined MIC in 2000. He will be vying for a position in the MIC central working committee at the coming party polls.

But his fortunes may have changed yesterday when the Home Ministry named "Kajang Kalai" from Gang 36 as one of the gangsters wanted by police.

Kalai Arasu was immediately linked to that list based on the similar nickname and locale, and since then, he has been hounded by phone calls.

“I am not in any gangs. I have never been arrested or charged. I don’t understand why my name is on the list,” Kalai Arasu told The Malaysian Insider.

"I stay in Kajang and have several businesses, including supplying security guards, selling funeral caskets and running a real estate business. I am well-known for my political and social work.

“People call me Kalai, not Kajang Kalai. Sometimes they ask, you know Kalai? The MIC’s Kajang Kalai. That’s it,” he said when asked about the nickname.

Kalai Arasu, however, is not without controversy.

Three years ago, he was shot three times by two unknown assailants on a motorbike while sitting in a coffeeshop in Kajang.

He was hospitalised for two weeks and until today, he said, the police have yet to charge anyone.

“Prior to that incident, I have been getting threatening text messages and phone calls. One caller threatened to shoot me. I thought it was not serious, so I told the person to go ahead,” he said.

With his name being linked to gangs, Kalai Arasu said his family is now upset and nervous.

“I cannot take them out for a dinner or shopping. I have been going around with a bodyguard for the past 16 months since the threats have not stopped. This is mental torture,” Kalai Arasu said.

The father of a six-year-old son, he said he had consulted a lawyer on his next course of action, which included lodging a police report on Monday.

“If I am indeed active in gangs, then the police would have arrested me sooner. But they never called me. So why put my name on the list?"
he asked.

He also questioned the Home Ministry’s motive in releasing the names of the alleged gang leaders, saying they are all Indians.

In defending Kalai Arasui, MIC Youth chief T. Mohan said he had been in the youth exco for nearly eight years and is a good and active social worker.

“I don’t think he belongs to any gangs. He had told me he is innocent and will be lodging a police report soon.” he said.

Mohan also questioned the list. He said he did not believe it came from the Home Ministry.

“I am going to clarify this with the police,” he said.

The Star reported today that the Home Ministry has revealed the names of more than 30 leaders of Gangs 04, 08 and 36 and their "areas" following the launch of Ops Cantas Khas recently in a bid to crackdown on secret societies and serious crimes.

Among those whose identities were made public were Tiram Sasi (Johor), Sungai Way Sugu (KL), Prai Bala (Penang), Langkap Sasi (Perak) from Gang 04; Indren (Penang), Dark (KL), Siva Guru (KL) from Gang 08; Cendol Kanna (KL), Devan (leader of the gang in KL and who is also a millionaire drug trafficker) and Kajang Kalai (Kajang) from Gang 36.

Earlier the Home Ministry revealed the names of 49 secret societies involved in drug trafficking, extortion, murder, initiating fights among secret societies and causing chaos.

Home Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi had also said they have identified individuals involved in secret societies who may also be involved in the country's politics.

In the special Ops Cantas nationwide exercise, which began on August 17 to arrest secret society members, police nabbed 4,806 people and seized 222 stolen vehicles and 221 firearms.

Ops Cantas was launched following a rise in violent crimes. - September 7, 2013.