He said that this was the way of the 10,000 odd PPS members in Penang to show support and solidarity for their 154 comrades who were rounded up by police this morning after the state Merdeka Day parade where the PPS was one of the 96 contingents which participated in a march-past.
Seven women were among the 154 arrested, including senior citizens.
Police, however, have yet to confirm under which section they are being investigated, but it is understood that they would be kept in lock-ups overnight to facilitate investigations.
Police have also seized their berets, purple vests and PPS membership cards.
Lim, meanwhile, condemned the action of holding the PPS members overnight and also condemned the act of nabbing them halfway through a state Merdeka event.
“They’ve been cooperating with the police and I really do not understand why they were arrested.
“If IGP Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar has challenged those behind PPS to come forward, he doesn’t need to look far because PPS is a state governed body and he can come and meet the Penang government comprising the state assemblymen and state exco members, including myself, ” he said at a press conference outside the Northeast district police headquarters where the 154 PPS volunteers are being held.
He said a team of four lawyers, among others Ramkarpal Singh and RSN Rayer. would be in charge of providing the 154 with legal assistance and a few more would also be engaged.
Earlier today, it was reported that some 250 PPS members were being held by the police and were brought to the Lebuh Pantai police station near the Penang Esplanade where the Merdeka day celebration was being held.
They were then taken in several school buses to the Northeast district police headquarters for documentation and to have their statements recorded.
Northeast district police chief Assistant Commissioner Mior Farid Alathrash Wahid said police would hold a press conference, but did not specify when.
“All I can confirm is that we have taken in 154 PPS members for questioning today,” he said when contacted.
Meanwhile Bukit Gelugor Member of Parliament Ramkarpal Singh Deo, who is a lawyer by profession, questioned the need for police to hold the 154 PPS members overnight and why the police had yet to reveal the section the 154 were being investigated under.
“This is absurd. The PPS members have been taken in without being told what they did wrong and which section will they be investigated under.”
Ramkarpal added that if the 154 members were to be remanded tomorrow, the necessary applications would be submitted to the magistrate in the event that remand proceedings were taken out.
“However, I see no reason to remand them and hold them overnight.”
No injuries were reported.
The Rakyat Post
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