250 PPS members rounded up during Merdeka march in Penang

Members from the Penang voluntary patrol unit (in purple shirts) at the Lebuh Pantai police station after being arrested for taking part at the Merdeka march-past at Esplanade in Penang. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Hasnoor Husssain, August 31, 2014.

About 250 members of Penang's Voluntary Patrol Unit (PPS) were arrested during the state-level Merdeka celebrations in George Town this morning, hours after Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi advised Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng not to challenge the police on the legality of the organisation.

The PPS members were stopped by the police immediately after they had participated in the official march-past, as part of the annual parade for the celebrations at the Padang Kota Lama about 10.15am.

They were taken to the nearby Lebuh Pantai police station for questioning. Police had the station cordoned off and guarded by the Federal Reserve Unit.

In his tweet today, Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar urged PPS leaders to surrender or risk having their homes raided by police.

"Elok lah mrk yg bertanggungjawap keatas PPS ini segera menyerah diri sebelum kami serbu kediaman. (It is better if those responsible for PPS to surrender before we start raiding their homes)," he said.

Zahid, who is the home minister, yesterday said as stated by the Registrar of Societies and Khalid, PPS was not a legal organisation as it had not been registered.

"We welcome initiatives to look after community safety but not by challenging the authorities.

"If there are parties wanting to assist and cooperate with police, put in the proper proposal and not by challenging the competence of parties responsibility for safety."

Ayer Itam assemblyman Wong Hon Wai said the police team waited for the PPS members at the tail end of the parade. He said the arrests went on without any untoward incident.

Khalid was on Friday quoted by Bernama as saying that PPS had appeared to stray from its objective when it was established four years ago, that is to serve the community.

Lim yesterday insisted that the unit had only helped the public during emergencies and disasters. He maintained that PPS was legal and legitimate as it was a state body instituted under the Penang government.

He had also said the state would accord full legal support to anyone who was arrested, and provide financial support for their families during their period in captivity.

By 11.15am, police had begun escorting the members in batches into police cars and trucks, to be taken to the George Town District police headquarters at Jalan Patani.

The PPS members mostly seemed unfazed, and were seen raising their arms to supporters and relatives who had gathered outside the station.

At about 11.50am, two yellow school buses were driven and left waiting in front of the station. More PPS members were then led out to be driven away in the buses.

Some supporters were heard shouting in Hokkien "mein kia" (be not afraid) as some of the members waved the Malaysian flag and showed the "thumbs-up" sign.

George Town district police chief ACP Mior Faridalatrash Wahid was present but was tight-lipped and gave no comments to reporters.

State executive councillor in charge of the PPS, Phee Boon Poh, expressed disappointment with the police action.

He said there were only two misdemeanour allegations against a small number of PPS members. The first saw a member apologising and pleading guilty to assaulting a reporter, while investigations are still ongoing for the second incident.

"Just because of two incidents you want to disband (PPS)," he said, adding that the unit has by and large contributed by helping with much-needed community policing, and during emergencies and disasters like floods, fires and road accidents.

A crowd of supporters and relatives had by noon also begun to converge outside the district headquarters.

Lim is expected to arrive and give a press statement.

- TMI