Secret society members 'swore to die for group' Tue, Nov 15, 2011 | New Straits Times MANJUNG - More than half of those detained in a police swoop on a suspected secret society initiation ceremony at a resort in Teluk Batik here on Saturday were secondary school and college students. A police source told the New Straits Times that the students were recruited online to participate in the gathering, which was held under the guise of "Genki 7 Family Day". Genki 7 is believed to be a social group that started recruiting youths in 2006, but police are now trying to ascertain if it is linked to secret society elements. Police rounded up 307 participants from various states, who had their statements recorded and were released within hours after the raid. Among those detained were 33 youths who were sitting for their Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia examination and three civil servants. It was disclosed that two of the civil servants were members of the Armed Forces. Initial investigations revealed that members of the group checked into the resort on Saturday afternoon. They were supposed to have an initiation ceremony later that night. It was learnt that the participants had to swear allegiance to the Genki 7 leaders, pledging to obey and carry out their orders without question. They also swore to sacrifice their lives and wealth for the benefit of the group. Police got wind of the gathering and after listening to speeches from the leaders of the group, a team of about 50 personnel raided the party and detained the participants. Police seized various items, including several documents bearing the allegiance pledge. They also seized key chains, T-shirts and car stickers bearing the logo of the group. "Genki 7 is not based in Manjung. Police are still probing the origin of this group. "We have identified the organiser of the event and will be calling him soon to assist in investigations," the source said. He added that the group was being investigated under Section 52 of the Societies Act 1966, where groups conducting triad rituals were deemed as unlawful societies. A spokesman for the resort said the group had made a booking for 25 rooms to cater to 350 people around two months ago. "They wanted to hold a barbecue dinner on Saturday night. We did not suspect anything amiss and we cannot question our guests. "The police came and told us that it was an illegal gathering before they raided the place. There were no problems as the participants were taken away in an orderly manner," the spokesman said.