KUALA LUMPUR: A teenager here allegedly resorted to extorting her mother for money after the former joined secret society 'Geng 24.'
This is among what some minors have been doing when they seek 'protection' money after joining the underworld gang.
MCA Public Services and Complaints Department head Datuk Seri Michael Chong said so far, his department received six complaints from worried family members after their children were duped into joining Geng 24.
"Some teenagers demand money from their families and, if the money is not given, they become aggressive, even threatening to call their 'boss'.
"In all of these cases, the children show changes such as starting to smoke, becoming irritable and isolating themselves in their rooms.
"Therefore, we advise parents to please be aware of these signs," he said.
A complainant who only wanted to be known as Cheo, 39, said his 17-year-old daughter started to change after meeting a member of Geng 24 whom she befriended at a pub in the Klang Valley recently.
According to Cheo, since then, his daughter has been difficult to contact, and she refused to continue her beauty course at a vocational institute in the capital.
He said her daughter, known only as Lam moved from their home in Negri Sembilan to Kuala Lumpur in March to work at a phone accessory shop after completing her Form Five studies.
"She enrolled in a two-year beauty course in June, but I was informed by the programme organiser that Lam only attended it for about two weeks," Cheo said.
He tried to contact Lam but was unsuccessful, so he had to search for her around the city here.
Cheo added that when he found his daughter, she admitted to joining Geng 24.
"She admitted to joining the group for protection, but when asked what she needed protection from, she wouldn't say.
"Lam has changed a lot. A police report has already been made. I ask the relevant authorities to help me save my beloved child," Cheo said.