Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng has been advised not to challenge the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar on the issue of the state's Volunteer Patrol Teams (PPS),and to discuss with the authorities instead.
Home Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi (pic) said, as stated by the Registrar of Societies and the IGP, 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," he told reporters after opening the Kluang Umno division delegates conference today.
Zahid, who is also Umno vice-president said, the question of safety was under the purview of the federal government and the state government did not have the right to set up an agency to look after safety.
"The question of security is enshrined in federal laws, there are no state laws or enactment to allow any organisation to look after security. As such the question of security is a federal government matter, not a state right," he said.
As stated by the IGP, he said, PPS could not be made equivalent to Village Security Committee (JKK) which was set up through the formulation of federal laws.
Asked if PPS personnel who persisted in conducting their duties could face arrest by police, he said what was stated by the IGP was true.
According to the IGP, action would be taken against any parties who attempted to take over the duties of the police.
Meanwhile in George Town, Lim said the state government would provide lawyers and legal funding to defend any PPS or Penang voluntary squard member being wrongly arrested by the police.
He said this following a statement by Khalid that the police would arrest members of the PPS if they continued their activities.
"If there are any criminal incidents involving PPS that are wrong, the Penang state government will co-operate fully with the police to take stern action," Lim said in a statement released today. – Bernama
Police will arrest members of 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 is 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 the remarks by 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.
No sex slaves, says police chief
In another development, the IGP refuted the recent report on a news portal alleging that there were Malaysian women offering sexual service 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 about their family members went missing or were killed there," he said.
Khalid also said that he and attorney-general Abdul Gani Patail would leave for Amsterdam on Sunday to resume negotiations concerning the investigation on the downed Malaysia Airlines (MAS) flight MH17.
"Abdul Gani and I will attend two meetings with the representatives from the Netherlands and Australia concerning the plan to resume the investigation 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 DIGP 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
Wan Junaidi (pic) said state governments were not allowed to set up their own standing army or police force as they did not have jurisdiction over matters related to security.
National security, he said, was placed under the powers and regulation of the central government.
"Existing organisations that carry out functions related to security such as Rela (People's Volunteer Corp), JPAM (Civil Defence Department) and the JKKK (Village Security and Development Committees) were all set up for national security purposes under federal law.
"The states cannot have their own army or police," he said, when asked to comment today on the growing controversy surrounding PPS.
Wan Junaidi said only the Royal Johor Military Force, which is under the Johor sultan's control, was an exemption and deemed legal by law.
The force is an independent military formation established in 1886 to function as the state army. It is one of the oldest armies in the country and the only state army in Malaysia.
Wan Junaidi also said the police had compiled information which indicated that PPS had acted in the same manner as would an enforcement unit or "vigilantes in other countries".
"As in other countries, vigilante groups can change their faces and go beyond the control of their founders.
"This is why they must be stopped from the beginning before they go out of control. That may bring about calamity and we cannot allow it to happen," he said.
Wan Junaidi said if Penang was allowed to have an organisation like the PPS unit, other states might follow suit.
"In the end, the country may be overrun by vigilantes. They may even be given ranks. This is what we want to avoid.
"That kind of authority (security) is under the police and other agencies that are recognised," he said.
On whether the authorities would see to the disbanding of PPS, Wan Junaidi said the matter was still being studied.
He said people were free to join associations as stated under the Constitution but organisations should be registered.
"Register before you start your activities. Registered organisations have clear objectives and guidelines," he said, adding that he would leave it to the police to complete their investigations.
The PPS unit recently stirred up controversy after a 51-year-old man alleged that two of its members had beaten him up. The duo have since denied the claim, saying that the man had attacked them first.
The incident attracted the attention of critics, with some demanding that the state explain the legitimacy of the unit.
On Tuesday, inspector-general of police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar said PPS was not registered with the RoS and was therefore considered illegal. He said PPS was being investigated under Section 41 of the Societies Act.
Meanwhile, state exco Phee Boon Poh, who is in charge of the unit, insisted that registration was not necessary as PPS was a state government agency.
Yesterday, Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said the recent attacks on PPS were politically motivated.
He said the state government would defend and stand together with the PPS unit to face the attacks. – August 28, 2014.
- See more at: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/penang-voluntary-unit-illegal-as-state-governments-have-no-jurisdiction-ove#sthash.brPXtuFq.dpuf
4. The Star: IGP warns PPS to stop activities or face arrest Aug 29th 2014
KUALA LUMPUR: The Penang Voluntary Patrol Unit (PPS) has been told to stop operations or face the possibility of arrest.
"I advise members of the group to stop their activities. Failure to do so may result in arrest," said Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar.
The Inspector-General of Police also said that now that the group had been deemed illegal, the responsibility to ensure that it ceased operations fell on the police.
Khalid, although commending PPS volunteers' efforts to ensure public safety, said the group had deviated from its role as a community service provider.
"At least two police reports were lodged against PPS for unruly behaviour, including assaults on a reporter and a member of the public.
"They have also carried out traffic controls without heeding traffic laws and instructions from the police," he added.
Earlier, Penang MCA Youth chief Michael Lee Beng Seng had urged the Home Ministry to check on the groups' legality after a brawl occurred between PPS members and social activist Ong Eu Soon, 51, on Aug 17.
Following the incident, Khalid issued a statement saying that PPS is viewed as an illegal society under Section 41 of the Societies Act (1966) as it was not registered with the Registrar of Societies (RoS).
Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng defended the PPS, saying that it was a legal state body.
Several online portals quoted Lim as saying that the PPS has been in operation for the past four years without any problems, until recently.
Meanwhile, Khalid and Attorney-General Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail will be leaving for Amsterdam on Sunday to continue investigations into the downing of Malaysian Airlines (MAS) flight MH17 with their Australian and Dutch counterparts.
"We have yet to receive clearance from Ukrainian authorities to enter the crash site, which is controlled by separatists.
"The police, along with our Dutch and Australian counterparts, agreed not to enter the site until it is deemed safe," said Khalid.
Khalid spoke at the handover ceremony of power between former federal police Internal Security and Public Order director Comm Datuk Seri Salleh Mat Rasid and his successor Deputy Comm Datuk Ab Razak Ab Ghani.
4. The Star: IGP warns PPS to stop activities or face arrest Aug 29th 2014
KUALA LUMPUR: The Penang Voluntary Patrol Unit (PPS) has been told to stop operations or face the possibility of arrest.
"I advise members of the group to stop their activities. Failure to do so may result in arrest," said Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar.
The Inspector-General of Police also said that now that the group had been deemed illegal, the responsibility to ensure that it ceased operations fell on the police.
Khalid, although commending PPS volunteers' efforts to ensure public safety, said the group had deviated from its role as a community service provider.
"At least two police reports were lodged against PPS for unruly behaviour, including assaults on a reporter and a member of the public.
"They have also carried out traffic controls without heeding traffic laws and instructions from the police," he added.
Earlier, Penang MCA Youth chief Michael Lee Beng Seng had urged the Home Ministry to check on the groups' legality after a brawl occurred between PPS members and social activist Ong Eu Soon, 51, on Aug 17.
Following the incident, Khalid issued a statement saying that PPS is viewed as an illegal society under Section 41 of the Societies Act (1966) as it was not registered with the Registrar of Societies (RoS).
Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng defended the PPS, saying that it was a legal state body.
Several online portals quoted Lim as saying that the PPS has been in operation for the past four years without any problems, until recently.
Meanwhile, Khalid and Attorney-General Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail will be leaving for Amsterdam on Sunday to continue investigations into the downing of Malaysian Airlines (MAS) flight MH17 with their Australian and Dutch counterparts.
"We have yet to receive clearance from Ukrainian authorities to enter the crash site, which is controlled by separatists.
"The police, along with our Dutch and Australian counterparts, agreed not to enter the site until it is deemed safe," said Khalid.
Khalid spoke at the handover ceremony of power between former federal police Internal Security and Public Order director Comm Datuk Seri Salleh Mat Rasid and his successor Deputy Comm Datuk Ab Razak Ab Ghani.
Posted on 26 August 2014 - 10:26pm
Bernard Cheah
PETALING JAYA: The Voluntary Patrol Unit (PPS) in Penang is illegal, said the Registrar of Societies (ROS).
Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar said he received a letter, signed by ROS registrar Mohammad Razin Abdullah today, which pointed out that PPS is not registered under the Societies Act 1966 (Act 335).
"Therefore, the organisation is deemed an establishment which is in violation of the law under Section 41 of the same Act," he said in a statement.
Khalid said the police will investigate activities carried out by PPS and will take action according to the law.
PPS was formed in 2011 by the Pakatan Rakyat-led Penang state government in an effort to combat crime around the state.
With an annual allocation of about RM1.5 million, PPS has some 250 teams with over 7,000 registered members.
PPS made headlines last week, when several of its members allegedly beat up a 51-year-old social activist at a dinner function in Air Itam in Penang over criticism of the state government on Facebook.
In early 2013, a PPS member assaulted a Guang Ming Daily pressman and destroyed his camera. The member was expelled and was fined by a court.
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