KUALA LUMPUR • Cockfighting may be illegal but it is thriving in the state of Selangor in Malaysia.

Despite the authorities cracking down on the bloody sport, most recently busting a cockfighting syndicate six months ago, cockfights are still taking place in abandoned houses in the west Malaysian state, reported The Star.

Part of the allure of the sport comes from its lucrative nature. Bets can go into hundreds of ringgit, depending on the birds' owner and how they are rated.

According to a StarMetro investigation into one cockfight in Bukit Sentosa, the cockfight rings are fairly small, measuring 1.5m by 1.5m on a makeshift bed.

Short knives between 3cm and 5cm long are tied to the left legs of the roosters to injure their rivals during the fight, which can go on for up to 15 minutes.

A Malaysian spectator who wanted to be known only as Ahmad told The Star: "I come here to make money. Sometimes, I can make up to RM200 (S$71) a day."

A participant, Rahhim, who rears roosters, said he participated in cockfights to ensure that the tradition did not die off. "We love the roosters, groom them and feed them well before the match."

Hulu Selangor District Council enforcement chief Khairul Nizam Mohamed Khanafi said stern action would be taken on those involved in cockfighting. He warned that those found guilty could be fined up to RM1,000 or jailed for up to six months.

THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK