THE Subang Jaya Municipal Council (MPSJ) and the police carried out a joint operation to remove about 600 illegal posters, stickers and banners in the municipality.
Nineteen police officers and 17 MPSJ personnel, led by Asst Supt Ang Hock Ling and Asst Supt Hamdan Zali, went to SS15 to take down the illegal advertisements.
The joint operation, which began at 9am on Wednesday, ended at noon.
MPSJ public relations officer Azfarizal Abdul Rashid said they would find out who had been putting up the illegal advertisements and issue compounds.
He said the people who advertised phone numbers would be issued compounds for vandalism and displaying unlicensed advertisements.
Subang Jaya’s Commercial Crimes Investigation division head DSP Ng Thean Ling said his division’s involvement was due to the presence of Ah Long advertisements and similar stickers which advertised money-lending services.
The MPSJ on the other hand targeted advertisements hung up without council permits. This also included tuition services or even cardboard signs announcing a bank auction on a property.
“It’s becoming an eyesore everywhere. In the case of Ah Long numbers, this is illegal because they are soliciting for unsuspecting borrowers,” said DSP Ng.
He said the police and the council would conduct such operations periodically and if possible monthly.
The police will forward the telephone numbers from illegal Ah Long stickers to the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission for further action.
“We have tried catching the Ah Longs in action but they are cautious and will not simply meet based on one phone call.
“The only ones they will meet are the victims who are already borrowing from them.
“But these victims usually do not talk to us because they fear retaliation,” said DSP Ng.
Lee Fook Meng, who observed the operation, said the stickers were pasted all over the place covering traffic signs and road names.