Sunday, 31 August 2014

IGP likens PPS to gangsters after mass arrests

Inspector-General of Police Khalid Abu Bakar has likened the Penang Voluntary Patrol Unit (PPS) to gangsters after the outfit continued with its activities despite being declared illegal by the authorities.



Khalid's remark came as some 154 PPS members were today arrested after they participated in the Merdeka parade in Penang this morning.

"They should have written to the Registrar of Societies (ROS) to ask for an explanation or use other legal channels to enquire about the orgnisation being declared illegal.

"Instead they decided to challenge the country's laws by challenging and threatening the police to take action and insisting that they will continue on with their activities.

"This is the sort of action by gangsters," he told the media today.

As such, Khalid said police was forced to arrest the PPS members for investigation.

He added that the members may be detained overnight IF police cannot complete its investigation in time and may be remanded on Monday.

'PPS was stubborn'

Khalid blamed the mass arrests on PPS members' "stubbornness", stating that he had already given them prior warning.

"I have already given a warning not to continue with their activities or I will take action to have them arrested.

"But it seems this organisation is being stubborn and deliberately wants to challenge the country's laws," he said.

Khalid also repeated his assertion that leaders of PPS should turn themselves in or police will raid their homes.

Yesterday, Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng vowed to challenge in court any police action against PPS members for simply being part of the outfit.

Lim also rubbished claims that PPS was illegal, stating that it was no different than local village committees which are also not registered with the ROS.

The PPS was set up by the state government four years ago to encourage community policing and has close to 8,000 members to date.

'Laughing stock'

The organisation has been accused by the state opposition of carrying out party works for DAP.

The organisation was declared illegal by federal authorities shortly after one of its members got into a scuffle with a businessman who is a staunch critic of the state government.

Meanwhile, DAP legal bureau chief Gobind Deo Singh has demanded the unconditional release of all 154 members, stating that their detention reflects poorly on the police force.

"What do we achieve by making mass arrests of citizens who volunteer themselves to keep their state safe?

"What crime have these people committed so as to deserve arrest and detention?" he said in a statement today.

Gobind said the mass arrest made a mockery over the federal government's call for members to the public to help fight crime.

"Instead of focusing on criminals and improving safety, the police act against citizens who are committed towards fighting crime," he said.

He warned that the mass arrest will make Malaysia and Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak's administration a laughing stock.

By Malaysiakini

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