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On the surface, he was a successful, respectable businessman, a Justice of the Peace and a philanthropist who donated generously to cancer patients.

The 46-year-old owner of Malaysia's largest entertainment and karaoke outlets was also one of the most powerful figures in the criminal underworld, known as one of four 'Heavenly Kings'.

In another sweep against corruption and vice, police raided a posh Chinese restaurant in Bukit Bintang - a shopping, dining and high-heeled prostitution district - and arrested 'Koh' and his wife as they had lunch last Friday.

Officials claim he heads a syndicate that operates illegal gaming, numbers betting, money laundering and prostitution.

Police say 'Koh' is such an important underworld figure that they will not release his full details for fear of spoiling further inquiries.

He is known as the 'Untouchable' because of his power and influence both in society and in the criminal underworld.

'He was truly the untouchable for many years because of the clout he wielded, but his reign of terror is over,' a police official said.

More than 30 triad members have been arrested in a police crackdown hastened by the no-nonsense government of Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.  They include two more of the 'Heavenly Kings', one of whom, police say, was also an 'active community leader' but controlled prostitution, illegal gambling and money laundering.

The arrests have brought the curtain down on the  reign of the 'untouchables' and sent   shock waves through the triad underworld, with many generals and lieutenants, including the fourth 'Heavenly King', running for cover.

Mr Abdullah had pledged to end gangland clashes, illegal numbers betting and drug dealing, which are blamed for a rise in violent crime. The prime minister  set up a commission led by a retired judge to revamp the police force and appointed two new men who have clean reputations - Police Inspector-General  Bakri Omar  and his deputy, Sedek Ali.  - in a corruption cleanup.

In the past weeks, more than two dozen policemen accused of protecting and benefiting from illegal gaming and prostitution, have been transferred or sacked.

Crime rates have been rising. The violent crime rate has doubled from 3.8 per 1,000 people in 1990 to 7.1 in 2000.

In the first half of last year,  there were on average 42 armed robberies and four rapes a day. One vehicle is stolen every 25 minutes.

'We have to act against our own police and against criminal kingpins to restore the people's confidence in our police force,' said Mr Bakri  at a police passing-out parade on Monday.



Malaysian police arrest 'Heavenly King' in vice crackdown