It depends, i believe the 'Am Pai' are still recruiting pai kias into their ranks, would bro GoldenDragon or Scroobal have any knowledge?
Bro, I am flattered to be mentioned in the same breath as scroobal. Thank you.
The 'am pais' we have today is a different breed from the past. The lau chiaos "am pais" in the past were also SS/Triad members who were able to speak the lingo and even more violent and vicious than the pai kias. The respect and fear factor existed then. No names need to be mentioned though 2 of the lau chiao "am pais" went through the entire process at Mandai Crematorium over the past 2 years. One was very influential in Geylang.
In the past, if any problems with a particular group, they knew who to summon for immediate remedial action to prevent an escalation of bad blood between rival groups. The behind-the-scene work of these lau am pais should not be underestimated. They were the ones that frequent underground gambling dens, brothels, nightclubs, hair saloon on a very regular basis. They spent more time outside than in their office. Office only for roll call and show face. Then they disappear into their own world. But they know the ground and the who's who of the underworld.
The am pais today cannot speak to the senior figures of SS/Triad leaders without being laughed at, behind their backs of course. This new generation of am pais do not have the substance. They don't gain the respect of underworld figures. The latter group merely makes use of the new bird am pais.
If you come in contact with this new generation, you may mistake them for university students! Even if they try their best to act macho, their hokkien vulgarities "out-of-tune" leh. You must also look at the Head of SSB. If he the goodie goodie type, how is he to impress his men who must then impress the ground.
Whoever heads SSB today, if he walks through Geylang and other notorious haunts of SS/Triad members and remain unidentified, need we say more? In the past where a certain Head SSB, then only known as OC SSB walks the ground, from 100m away, the SS/Triad members either run or stay behind to respectfully greet him. He is in his 60s today, still alive.
Politicians and am pais quite similar. Politicians who sit in their office knows nothing on the ground but they impress with their academic credentials. Am pais today maybe "O" levels quite good liao. Coffeeshop MPs read the ground like reading their palm. Same for the lau am pais who knew what was happening on the ground.
Take the 369 vs Pak Hai Tong recent case for example. The fact that 369 went around looking for PHT chaps tell us that there was an earlier conflict. Was SSB aware?
So, the am pais today cannot 'recruit' influential members of the underworld to be their eyes and ears. At best, they talent spot the wannabes. One very well known lau pai kia once told me how he was spotted for cultivation by a young officer from Police Intelligence. He told me he was old enough to be the mata's papa, even kong kong if he marries at 18 and his son 18 too.
The am pais today also scared to mix with SS chaps. SS chaps don't attend concerts and go library. If seen with these chaps at brothels, massage parlors and niteclubs, CPIB may start probing. So, for various reasons, the am pais of today is only 25% of the lau am pais' capability.