PPS members face arrest if they continue activities

IGP says PPS is illegal as it is not registered under ROS.

KUALA LUMPUR: Police will arrest members of the Penang Voluntary Patrol Squad (PPS) if they continue the activities of the illegal society.

Inspector-General of Police Khalid Abu Bakar said the PPS appeared to have strayed from the original objective of its establishment four years ago, that was to serve the community.

“The PPS members have started hitting people, some journalists had been beaten, people who disagreed with them were also beaten…at least two police reports have been lodged by the public and the journalists concerned.”

Khalid said this in response to remarks by the PPS leader who challenged the IGP’s statement on the ban on PPS made by the Registrar of Societies (ROS).

“In its early years, the police viewed the PPS as a society that served the people, but recently, PPS was seen to have strayed from its original objectives…their patrolling activity to protect public safety is no longer being carried out,” he said.

Last Tuesday, Khalid was reported to have issued a statement that the PPS had been deemed an illegal society under Section 41 of the Societies Act as it was not registered as a society under ROS.

In another development, the IGP refuted the recent report on a news portal alleging Malaysian women were offering sexual services to fighters in Syria.

“We are also refuting the allegation that there are Malaysians who were killed in Syria because the police have yet to receive any official report from the government of Syria.

“Besides, no Malaysian families have lodged any report their family members went missing or were killed there,” he said.

Khalid also said that he and Attorney-General Gani Patail would leave for Amsterdam Sunday to resume negotiations concerning the investigation on the downed Malaysia Airlines (MAS) flight MH17.

“Abdul Gani and I will attend two meetings with representatives from the Netherlands and Australia concerning the plan to resume investigations of the incident,” he said.

Earlier, Khalid witnessed the handing over of duties of Bukit Aman Police Director of Internal Security and Public Order (KDNKA) Salleh Mat Rasid at the Police Training Centre (PULAPOL) here today.

Also present were Deputy Inspector-General of Police Mohd Bakri Mohd Zinin.

Salleh is going on compulsory retirement on Sept 1 after 40 years of service. KDNKA Deputy Director (Operations) DCP Ab Razak Ab Ghani will act in the post. - Bernama