Guan Eng asking for it, Zahid says on PPS

Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi says Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng has defied the inspector-general of police on the matter of the Voluntary Patrol Squad. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Nazir Sufari, September 1, 2014.

The arrest Penang's Voluntary Patrol Unit (PPS) members after the Merdeka celebrations in  Penang was done after Lim Guan Eng challenged the inspector-general of police to act against them, Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said today.

The home minister said police had advised Penang on PPS over the past few years but the Penang chief minister chose to ignore it.

"The action was also taken after police received an official letter from the Registrar of Societies (RoS) stating that PPS was not a registered organisation," said Ahmad Zahid after officiating the Umno Segambut division meeting in Kuala Lumpur today.

He said police acted according to the law.

"Guan Eng dared to challenge the IGP, so he has to face a legal action," said Ahmad Zahid when asked if police were going to act against the Penang chief minister.

He said police carried their responsibility and fairly – even in the states controlled by Pakatan Rakyat. 

He said the authorities had received many reports that there were those in PPS who had behaved unlawfully and threatened the public, and even hurled abuses as if they were carrying enforcement work and not keeping the peace.

He said Guan Eng previously asked the police and home minister to approve the state application to have auxiliary police attached to the state municipal council.

"At the time, we received information that there was something not right with the request so we did not approve it. I cannot tell you the details," said Zahid.

Police yesterday arrested Penang executive councillor Phee Boon Poh over his involvement with the Voluntary Patrol Unit (PPS).

Phee is the state exco in charge of the unit and his arrest follows the detention of about 156 PPS members earlier yesterday.

He was arrested when he went to the Northeast police headquarters to give his statement about 4.30pm accompanied by Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng and Seri Delima assemblyman R.S.N. Rayer.

The arrests came after IGP declared the PPS illegal.

He had also tweeted a warning that the PPS leadership should turn themselves in if they did not wish to have their homes raided by police.

Phee spoke to The Malaysian Insider yesterday, saying that the unit's scope included quick response to emergencies and disasters, and does not include enforcement powers.

He said the PPS was formed to help with community policing following lukewarm response from the federal government to their requests to increase Rukun Tetangga and Rela Corps to heighten security in the state.

IGP told Bernama that PPS had strayed from its original objectives after police reports were lodged against its members.

PPS members were alleged to have assaulted journalists and members of the public, which prompted the lodging of several police reports.

- TMI