Sunday 31 August 2014

Penang prepares to go to court over legitimacy of Voluntary Patrol Unit

The Penang government is ready to allow the courts to decide on the legality and legitimacy of its Voluntary Patrol Unit (PPS) which has been pronounced by the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) and the Registrar of Societies (ROS) as being illegal.

Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said the unit had been formed as an entity under the state government, but this has been countered by IGP Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar.

“We are ready for this to be decided in court according to the law,” Lim told reporters outside the George Town police station where more than 150 PPS members were held following their arrests today.



He said the state took full responsibility on the formation of the PPS, which provides the public help during emergencies and disasters, and in community policing.
On Khalid’s tweet this morning asking for the surrender of those responsible for the PPS before the police started to raid their homes, Lim said: “I feel he does not have to look anywhere. Just look for the state government because the state government is responsible.

“And who is the state government? Of course it is all the state executive councillors, including the chief minister,” he added.

The PPS members were arrested immediately after they had participated in the state-level Merdeka Day parade at Padang Kota Lama this morning.

Lim said the state would postpone all PPS activities for one day, and would announce the next course of action tomorrow following feedback from the state's lawyers.

He added that following discussions with Penang police chief Datuk Abdul Rahim Hanafi and George Town police chief ACP Mior Faridalatrash Wahid, he was informed that a total of 154 PPS members had been detained.

He said the state police were only performing their duties according to orders given to them.

“We have no problems with the police. We are only unhappy with what has been issued by the IGP,” Lim said.

“We feel that his assertion is not based on the law, but apparently for political purpose,” Lim added.

He said that PPS members have been instructed to provide full cooperation to the police.

“PPS members respect the law. They are loyal to the country and the constitution of Malaysia. So, they will abide by the legal system that exists,” he said.

Source: The Malaysian Insider

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