‘I am not aware of it’, Lim insists of pledge to save village

The Chief Minister says he had no knowledge Anwar Ibrahim had promised Kampung Buah Pala villagers land titles should PR win the state.

GEORGE TOWN: Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng told the High Court today that did not know that opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim had once pledged to save the Indian village, Kampung Buah Pala.

Guan Eng said he never knew that prior to the 2008 general election Anwar had made the pledge to the village residents.

“I am not aware of it,” was Guan Eng’s reply to a question by defence counsel Baljit Singh during a cross-examination in the chief minister’s defamation suit against heritage activist Professor Dr Jimmy Lim Cheok Siang, FMT and journalist Athi Shankar.

Baljit, who was representing Jimmy Lim, asked the chief minister whether he knew of Anwar’s pledge to save Kampung Buah Pala, a 200-year-old Indian village once commonly known as “Tamil High Chaparral.”

Baljit refreshed Guan Eng’s memory, saying that Anwar had promised Kampung Buah Pala residents that they would be delivered land titles for their village homes within two weeks if the then opposition coalition of PKR–DAP–PAS wrested the state government from Barisan Nasional in the 2008 polls.

The opposition alliance, which later came to be known as Pakatan Rakyat, won the state government in the general election.

But the land titles were never delivered as promised.

Anwar’s pledge became a major public issue during the height of the Kampung Buah Pala fiasco in 2009 with video footage showing the PKR supremo making his promise by putting his hand on an elderly villager’s head.

Guan Eng is represented by lawyer N Murali, while Baljit, V Amareson and Rowena Yam represented the first defendant, Jimmy Lim.

Legal counsel Clement Lopez acted for the second defendant M-Today News Sdn Bhd, the holding company of FMT, and third defendant Athi Shankar.

In his suit, Guan Eng claimed that an article titled: “Guan Eng has failed, says NGO” that appeared on FMT on December 6, 2013 carried unadulterated malice to destroy his image and reputation as an elected representative, people’s leader and politician in Penang and Malaysia.

Guan Eng, who is also DAP secretary-general, claimed that the article, which reported a statement by Jimmy Lim at a press conference, had alleged that he was an incompetent chief minister and not qualified to be a leader.

Guan Eng is demanding a public apology from the defendants as well as general and exemplary damages and other damages deemed fit by the court.

The suit is being heard before High Court judicial commissioner Nordin Hassan.

To another question from Amareson, Guan Eng testified that his state government had not finalised the gazetting and implementation of the Penang Island Local Plan, which was passed in 2008.

He revealed that the main reason for the delay was because his state government had not finalised the local area development plan for heritage zones even after Pakatan’s seven years in state power.

George Town and Malacca were listed jointly as Unesco International Heritage cities in July 2008.

Lim also admitted the all his claims and pleadings made in his suit did not exist in the said FMT article.

Source: FMT

Penang : Slaughterhouse of Grisly Murders Discovered!

Penang has been rocked by a series of gruesome murders over recent months, with the police recovering dismembered body parts and headless corpses.

And now the police have discovered a "slaughterhouse" at a kampung house located in Bukit Mertajam.

The "slaughterhouse" is believed to be the site for the spate of killings involving Myanmar nationals.

News tweets quoted Penang police chief Abdul Rahim Hanafi as stating that two people have been arrested.

Among the recent cases was the discovery of a decapitated head near a coffeeshop in Taman Impian on Nov 24.

The head, believed to be that of a foreigner, was found in a plastic bag left under an open umbrella.

The area is a colony for workers from Nepal, Myanmar, Bangladesh and Indonesia.

Source: Malaysiakini

[More to follow]

The Price of Ubah

The Price of Ubah

by Datuk Huan Cheng Guan

Chairman

Persatuan Anak Jati Pulau Pinang

About six and a half years ago, Penangites rejoiced when the DAP state government took over the reins of power from BN. From joyous laughter and clapping, many are wiping their silent tears for it is glaringly clear that the state government’s decisions and fiscal policies ignore the livelihood and financial burden of Penangites.

We have seen successive decisions in the increasing water  tariffs (announced during the possibility of water cuts with the irrational rationale that it would promote water conservation). Then we witnessed the imposition of a levy on hotel rooms with the lame excuse that it was to help promote tourism but never gave any reason why Malaysians also have to pay the levy.

We have just seen an increase in the rental rate(in some cases up to 100%) for hawkers stalls in Seberang Prai – a decision made with no dialogue with the affected hawkers but approved in the monthly meetings of the Seberang Prai Municipal Council (MPSP) in May 2014.

At a dialogue after the increase was imposed, “The increase of rental rates will not only help the council recover from its financial struggle but also allows us to build new facilities for traders.

“Those who are trading without licences will first be issued with a notice, then fined and finally have their items confiscated if they continue to disobey the warnings,” she said.

Is this making ordinary citizens pay more the ONLY way MPSP can recover from its ‘financial struggle’? Should they not explore other cost cutting measures?

MPSP President Maimunah Mohd Shariff said the increase was vital because the revenue collected was not sustainable due to rising operation and maintenance costs.

However, MPSP has not explained the downward trend in expenditure s shown below, that is incongruent with the claim of rising operation and maintenance costs.

Year	MPSP Expenditure
2010	2.4 million
2011	2.2 million
2012	1.4 million MORE than collection
2013	919, 818 RM MORE than collection

When Dewan Bandaraya Kuala Lumpur announced their decision to raise assessement rates, opposition members took to the streets to voice their protest. Now, we see Penang DAP leaders playing the silent game.

Penangites are almost always made to pay when the expenditure exceeds revenue. By 2015, 274,000 commercial and residential owners on Penang island will be affected by the increase in assessment rates (a decision which was announced in November 2013).

Obviously, DAP leaders love to ride roughshod over Penangites in their propensity to hike fees or rates at their whims and fancies. Perhaps this is the UBAH DAP meant in their 2013 GE Slogan. Penangites  have to pay the price for falling for that seemingly innocuous message!

How Much Longer Do Penangites Have to Suffer?

As long as the Penang state government continues in their self-imposed inertia in implementing the Penang Island Local Plan (which has been on hold since 2008), there will be no end to the incessant debate as to whether it is climatic change and/or overdevelopment that causes flooding in Penang.

Lame denials by the state government or finger pointing do nothing for the prestige of this island.

This is what happened this morning in Relau, Penang, after a short downpour.

When the state government waffles around dishing out excuses and hides behind masks, citizens will never be happy with an elected government that refrains from enforcing the local plan without which there can be no clear guidelines and specifications for development. In other words, without implementing the Penang Island Local Plan, it has been a free-for-all for developers can enjoy and exploit the freedom and benefit of building their projects at their whims and fancies, including at environmentally sensitive locations. No one would know. And, it would be very difficult to take action.

It is incredulous that against this backdrop, Chow Kon Yeow can say the state government is working on completing the state drainage and irrigation masterplan to better tackle the flood issue. But what about the Local Plan that has greater and far reaching consequences for the betterment of the state?

Is that the reason why the state government is so unwilling and nonchalant about implementing the Penang Island Local Plan and enforcing integrated development?

If this continues, Penangites will continue to pay the price of the state government’s nonchalance and blatant disregard of Penangites’ welfare.

So, ubah lah – development ala LGE or a people-centric development with maximum accountability.

By Datuk Huan Cheng Guan
Chairman
Persatuan Anak Jati Pulau Pinang
(Penang People's Association)

How To Be A Leader With Class

When a political leader demonstrates a hostile bent by consistently challenging anyone who does not conform to his ideals and expectations, citizens are ushered into a new era of rebellion and anarchy.

There are different types of political leaders and politicians. Some have true diplomacy, elegance, and class while some are deficient in leadership quality, style and character.

When a political leader lacks bedrock principles and values such as vision and social etiquette, he can never be a leader in a class above the rest. Over time, his deficiency in eloquence, wisdom, self-control, and finesse will show through and people will lose respect for him.

Penang Chief Minister (CM) Lim Guan Eng loves riding on popular sentiments for political mileage, but is he capable of bringing citizens together to develop consensus for unity?

Can such a leader be a role model for young people? Is he indirectly stirring up a generation of Gen Y rebels in the making, ever ready to go against the status quo at any opportunity for applause and fame via arrests and other brainless antics?

A political leader’s decisions and statements must be sensitive to public sentiments. Only then can he claim to uphold unity and harmony.

However, Penang has a hot-headed CM who loses his cool easily and uses a confrontational attitude with the media and police. As head of the state administration, he should seek solutions instead of creating more dissension.

Perhaps he sees Penang as his little kingdom where he is immune to police and legal action.

A political leader must have a clear vision of what he wants to accomplish, where he wants to take the citizens, and how to get there.

If Lim is indeed a literate political leader, offering intelligent, well-reasoned arguments would be a breeze but this doesn’t appear to be the case as he tries to win public support and sympathy by the sheer force of his bold statements.

Respect must be earned, not shoved down our throats.

By Thomas Tarnell, Free Malaysia Today

NST: Bouncers, Pimps May Join PPS

Here's a letter from a NST reader which was posted AT THIS LINK:

I REFER to your report, “Avoid gangs, Pope tells youth in El Salvador” (NST, Sept 6).

  It is regrettable that while the Pope has urged the youngsters of El Salvador to steer clear of violent groups and to be careful when there are groups that seek out destruction, who search for war and who don’t know how to work as a team, a state government in Malaysia formed an allegedly illegal voluntary patrol unit (PPS) to control the public and look after their welfare and security.

  I don’t think these untrained PPS members know anything about the law, and, as such, they cannot be allowed to assume the role of the police in dealing with matters of security and public order.

As it is, the police have identified some of the members as samseng (gangsters), drug addicts
with criminal records and ex-detainees.

  What is the rationale behind the chief minister’s defiance of the law to protect and keep PPS, other than helping the state government to look after the welfare and security of the people of Penang?

  Penangites should support the police crackdown on PPS.

If it is not nipped in the bud, more people, especially Ah Long, bouncers, vehicle repossesser, smugglers, pimps, brothel and gambling dens operators, and triad society members will join as members.

They will then become a mafia, operating under the protection of the state government.

This will create fear and chaos not only in Penang, but also the country.

  It baffles me that the chief minister has not thought of using his DAP Youth and Wanita wings, which are registered organisations, to help him out with the welfare and security of Penangites.
  If the chief minister is a smart public administrator, he should know that even though Penang is governed by the federal opposition, the state is not autonomous or independent and is still under the purview of the Federal Constitution in so far as education, health, and security policies are concerned.

  The chief minister should find an amicable solution, instead of being aggressive and adamant about keeping the PPS.

He should instead work with the police and make use of the Malaysian Volunteer Corps (Rela), Fire Brigade, Civil Defence Department, or Police Volunteer Reserve to help him in welfare and security problems.

He should encourage good and “clean” members of PPS to join these agencies.

By Nor Shahid Mohd Nor, Petaling Jaya, Selangor

The purple vanity army that apes Guan Eng

THE Lim Guan Eng-adulating Penang Voluntary Patrol Unit (PPS) initially marched to the idealistic drill of crime prevention and community aid but like all wannabe vigilante mob, the outfit degenerated into the Penang chief minister’s “purple vanity army”, ironically magnifying what is ominous about his seven-year reign.

Whether the PPS is a legal unit or a state agency, as sedulously claimed by Lim, or an unlawful body, as firmly instructed by Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar, is immaterial: the courts may soon rule on the PPS’ legality but its overarching existence is still sinister.

Take Lim’s brazen baiting of the IGP: instead of positive engagement, Lim disses Khalid revoltingly, first taunting police to clamp down on the PPS and when that unexpectedly materialised on the Merdeka Day arrests of PPS members, challenged Khalid to a face-saving but useless debate on the detention.

Lim fails to realise that the arrests can be challenged and defended in open court without the need to needle the IGP.

But then, needling has always been a Lim Guan Eng speciality.

The PPS’ growth, it would seem, apes Lim’s brash ways but while the chief minister has been abrasively outspoken, some unit members, albeit in the minority, have no qualms assaulting dissenters.

While investigations into the PPS’ illegality are benignly tied to violations of the Societies Act, police uncovered disturbing elements among the 10-000-strong membership: thuggery, attempted murder, robbery, thievery and drug abuse.

No society is free from wayward members but the PPS seemed to have taken it to a new dimension by “re-hiring” one member convicted of violent assault against a Press photographer in 2012 after he was publicly sacked last year.

Based on an image that had gone viral on social media, this same person allegedly reappeared at Karpal Singh’s funeral on April 20 in full PPS purple garb wielding a walkie-talkie, if only to reflect his importance on the unit’s pecking order and making a nonsense of the sacking as simply a window dressing.

A single, isolated example of violent thuggery can be shrugged off but reinstating this particularly thug surreptitiously is cynical and vindictive.

The thuggery in PPS, an outfit funded and guided by the Penang Government, may be coincidental but its formation seems to stem from Lim’s insecurities and complexes, nurtured for decades since his early years as the malcontent son of an opposition heavyweight that shaped into a feared and loathed dynasty in the DAP.

Time in prison and stints under ISA detention reinforced his siege/bunker mentality to the point that a simple innocuous chastisement of him can escalate into full blown hostility.

Lim seems ill-disposed to eat his own dog food: he is fond of vilifying opponents – government leaders or DAP dissenters – as racists, extremists, religious bigots and cronies aside from accusations of anti-free speech, anti-justice or just about anti-everything on anything he despises.

Lim’s legions gleefully lap up his histrionics without the slightest irony, seeing that his routine accusations on enemies fly back furiously to his face:

HIS DAP elections are a mess twice over, all happening under
his watch as party secretary-general and for all his Malaysian Malaysia, anti-racial rhetoric, the DAP leadership is flagrantly overweight in
a single race;

HE phases out critics in the DAP who challenge his authority, reprising the tactics his father applied to kick out a series of DAP stalwarts since the 1980s;

HE censures newspapers or any media outfit who dare defy his policies or leadership style, a collapsing strategy as Chinese newspapers have ganged up to demand an apology for years of suppression; and,

HE charged that Malaysia had been brainwashed with “Hitlerian ideas” when it is he who creepily copied the fascism tendency.

Lim’s barbs against the IGP sums up the “Orwellian” outlook of his rule: a poster boy for the continuing fascism masked as a “democracy” in the DAP controlled by a “politburo” rather than direct elections as practised by virtually every other party, opposition or government.

Only this time, Lim is executing his “Animal Farm” narrative supported by the aggression of his purple vanity army.

By Azmi Anshar, NST

Well done, Saudara! Brilliant discourse!

PM: Voluntary units should act within ambit of law

Voluntary crime prevention units should not go overboard to an extent of ignoring the law and disrupting the peace and public security.

Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak said all parties are subjected to the country’s laws and they should not act or take the law into their own hands.

“The rule of law prevails. Only this way can we be assured of peace and harmony in the country.”

He said this in his speech after presenting the National Sovereignty Medal to 129 recipients, including seven ministers, at the Police Training Centre (Pulapol) in Jalan Semarak in Kuala Lumpur.

Najib said although the government welcomes the move by societies in conducting crime prevention activities, they should comply with the law and did not undermine security and harmony in the country.

The prime minister said the government appreciated their contributions as it was practised before when the country was facing the communist threat.

“We also need the support and cooperation from the people, like when we stifled the communist threat and came up with the phrase winning the hearts and minds of the people.

“Hence, efforts to face outside threats and from within are crucial, but they have to be in accordance with the law. Anything can be discussed, don’t threaten the authorities or debate openly. Don’t do things as you please.”

Najib said this in response to the action of the Penang Voluntary Patrol Unit (PPS) which had created public anxiety.

Police recently detained 145 PPS members for conducting activities despite warning to stop them by inspector-general of police Khalid Abu Bakar.

Khalid issued the warning because PPS is not registered with the Registrar of Societies (ROS).

- Bernama

DAP MP arrested as PPS crackdown continues

DAP's Tanjong MP Ng Wei Aik has ben arrested by the police as the crackdown on the Penang Voluntary Patrol Unit (PPS) continued today.

Ng is deputy commander of the PPS.

He was arrested at 1pm today at the Patani Road district police headquarters in Penang, for violating the Societies Act 1966, after he arrived to give a statement.

Ng was called to be present at the police station at 12.30pm to have a statement recorded before he was arrested.

Penang executive councillor Phee Boon Poh, who is the chairperson for PPS, will also be present at the same police station at 8.30pm tonight.

Phee, along with 155 other PPS members, had already been arrested after attending the state Merdeka Parade at the Esplanade on Sunday, before they were released on police bail on Monday.

The police are cracking down on PPS following Inspector-General of Police Khalid Abu Bakar’s declaration that PPS as illegal as it is not registered with the Registrar of Societies.

Timur Laut district police chief ACP Mior Faridalatrash Wahid later confirmed with reporters that Ng was detained under Section 43 of the Societies Act 1966.

Malaysiakini

Top 10 Reasons Why PPS Must be Disbanded

Citizens are ever ready to condemn the police for not being vigilant in curbing rising crime rates. However, the recent crackdown by our police force has seemingly split democratic space into two dimensions - one which supports the police crackdown on PPS (Pasukan Peronda Sukarela) and the other which condemns the same. As a concerned Malaysian, I appeal to all quarters to put aside their political bias to review the chronology of events to judge for themselves the magnitude of the security problems posed by PPS. Do not be blinded by party loyalty or predisposed negativism towards our police who must be commended for their timely action.

Here are some facts and figures that speak for themselves.

Fact #1
Contrary to claims by the Penang government, State police chief Datuk Wira Abdul Rahim Hanafi revealed that police had NEVER received any applications to vet members of the PPS unit. (Source: Here)

Fact #2
Datuk Wira Abdul Rahim stated firmly that he has NEVER commended the state for setting up the unit and his men have NEVER conducted patrols with them.

Please refer to the Chief Minister's speech HERE where he publicly acknowledged Datuk Wira Abdul Rahim (and the installation of CCTVs which run into over RM 9million) for being instrumental in bringing DOWN the crime rate.

Hence, the launch of PPS is completely frivolous, unnecessary and a waste of state resources.

Fact #3
According to The Star, police investigations have revealed that eleven of the 156 Penang Voluntary Patrol (PPS) unit members detained have criminal records involving theft, robbery, drugs, triad-related offences and even homicide.

Most alarmingly, Penang police chief Senior Deputy Comm Datuk Wira Abdul Rahim Hanafi said one of the PPS members, who had links to a secret society, was detained under the Emergency Ordinance before it was abolished.

All this goes to show how the authorities in charge of PPS have NOT screened the members carefully and allowed in the name of Penang, anyone to be a PPS member. With that failure, it meant that those with criminal records, unholy alliances with triads or drug offences etc could move around freely and with authority bestowed upon them by the state government. Hence, PDRM did rightly to zoom in on them.

Bear in mind that the 154 who turned up for the Merdeka parade must have presumably been 'loyal' members. If we adopt that premise, a discovery of 11 out of 154 is very frightening. All the more the remaining 8000 over members must come forward to be screened by the police and if indeed, more are found with incriminating evidence against them, the leaders must be held accountable!

Fact #4
Another report said four of those arrested were also tested positive for drugs. CM Lim Guan Eng should not defend these persons with a lame excuse that they were on medication. The Rakyat Post reported that the drug present in their urine was methamphetamine.

Methamphetamine is an illegal drug in the same class as cocaine and other powerful street drugs. It has many nicknames—meth, crank, chalk or speed being the most common.Methamphetamine is a white crystalline drug that people take by snorting it (inhaling through the nose), smoking it or injecting it with a needle. Some even take it orally, but all develop a strong desire to continue using it because the drug creates a false sense of happiness and well-being—a rush (strong feeling) of confidence, hyperactiveness and energy. One also experiences decreased appetite. These drug effects generally last from six to eight hours, but can last up to twenty-four hours. (Source:Here)

Fact #5
The above points glaringly underscore the fact that PPS has DEVIATED from the original intention idealistically stated in CM Lim's speech on 15th September 2011 here:

Sokongan PPS dengan pihak polis diharap dapat mengekalkan kententeraman awam dan menjadikan negeri Pulau Pinang sebagai negeri yang paling selamat di Malaysia yang sedikit sebanyak akan membolehkan Pulau Pinang terus menjadi pilihan utama pelabur dan pelancong.
Antara objektif penubuhan PPS ini adalah untuk membantu Pihak Berkuasa Keselamatan dalam menangani kegiatan atau aktiviti sosial yang negatif di sesuatu kawasan termasuk membersihkan kawasan daripada anasir dadah.
Selain daripada itu, penubuhan ini juga sedikit sebanyak dapat membantu PDRM untuk mencegah dan membanteras jenayah dengan bertindak sebagai pembekal maklumat di samping menjalankan hubungan kerjasama kejiranan yang erat di kalangan anggota masyarakat tempatan.

How can drug addicts, those with serious criminal records of serious crimes be part of PPS?

Fact #6
Put to death all the silly excuses that the police is targetting opposition supporters. PPS members have been doing political activities as can be seen by photographic evidence. Stop the charade and remove the veil of hypocrisy.

Fact #7
The leaders must show the public AUDITED accounts of PPS and how it is part of the Penang Budget. Live up to the CAT principle. Failure to do so means CAT is a mockery of values and ethics as espoused by the Chief Minister.

Fact #8
The Penang State government must show the dates and minutes of meetings/state assemblies where the decision for the formation of PPS was made and how they arrived at the final decision.

Fact #9
With the revelation that amongst the 154 who were detained, eleven have dubious past and criminal records, how can the state government pay out RM200 to each person for each day of detention? This is incorrigible! To fund members who were not properly screened by the members and then to accuse the police of victimization is truly spinning and twisting facts.

Fact #10
If by the time investigations reveal how procedures were never in place or not followed, and if found guilty, those leaders who are guilty under the various offenses under the Societies Act 1966, must step down and pay from their own pockets, the money that had been used for funding PPS activities from DAY 1.

Penangites MUST not pay for such a catastrophic debacle, if proven so.

The guilty ones must pay the price and face the music without deriding the PDRM.

In the mean time, SYABAS to our IGP Tan Sri Khalid, Penang police chief Senior Deputy Comm Datuk Wira Abdul Rahim Hanafi and PDRM. Keep up the good work! Bring the guilty ones to task!

Enlightened Malaysians are behind you because the DAP bubble has burst!

By Thomas Tarnel, Malaysiakini

Failed tunnel joint-venture draws criticism

GEORGE TOWN: The failed joint-venture between Zenith PMC Sdn Bhd, a unit of Zenith Construction Sdn Bhd and Astral Supreme Construction Sdn Bhd concerning the Penang undersea tunnel may still see the latter involved in the later part of the project.

Penang Citizens Awareness Chant Group (Chant) wants to know why Consortium Zenith BUCG Sdn Bhd, the tunnel project developer engaged Astral Supreme when the company had no experience in the construction industry.

Chant steering committee member B.Nawawi said Astral Supreme was principally engaged in the business of manufacturing, assembly and export of electronic products and components.

He said there were also other issues affecting the company such as failure to submit its annual audited accounts for 2013 within the stipulated timeline.

He also said Astral Supreme had also received qualification in the auditors’ report on its financial statements for 2013.

“So why get Astral Supreme involved in the feasibility study in the first place when the company was troubled and clearly had no experience in engineering or construction works, let alone an undersea tunnel?

“Why did Zenith go through Astral Supreme instead of engaging more experienced engineering consultants directly to do the feasibility study?” enquired Nawawi in a statement to FMT.

Last month, Consortium Zenith BUCG chairman Zarul Ahmad Zulkifli while confirming the termination of the joint-venture clarified that Astral Supreme could not fulfil its obligations as stated in the agreement.

Astral Supreme, via its unit Astral Supreme Construction Sdn Bhd, had on Aug 15 2013 signed a joint-venture agreement with Zenith PMC Sdn Bhd to manage, perform and carry out feasibility studies and detailed designs for certain roadworks and the undersea tunnel between Penang island and Seberang Prai.

The mega project includes a 6.5km tunnel linking Gurney Drive on the island and Bagan Ajam on the mainland; a 4.2km bypass road linking Lim Chong Eu Expressway and Gurney Drive; a 4.6km bypass linking Air Itam and Lim Chong Eu Expressway; and a 12km Tanjung Bungah-Teluk Bahang road.

Consortium Zenith BUCG was awarded the project by the Pakatan Rakyat state government.

The consortium’s main shareholders were Zenith Construction and China Railway Construction Corporation Ltd with joint 70% equity share; Beijing Urban Construction Group with 10% equity share; Sri Tinggi Sdn Bhd with 10% equity share; and Juteras Sdn Bhd with 10% equity share.

China Railway will undertake 70% of the construction works while Consortium Zenith BUCG will construct 30% of the entire project.

Free Malaysia Today

PPS: Phee released, Rayer arrested

GEORGE TOWN: A second DAP assemblyman has been detained in connection with the Penang Voluntary Patrol (PPS) issue.

Seri Delima assemblyman R.S.N Rayer was detained at about 6pm Monday.

George Town OCPD Asst Comm Mior Faridalathrash Wahid confirmed the arrest.

He said Rayer would be investigated under Section 43 of the Societies Act 1966 for being a member of an unlawful society.

The offence is punishable with a jail term of up to three years, or a RM5,000 fine, or both.

Rayer is said to be the Seri Delima PPS chief.

Meanwhile, PPS chairman and state executive councillor Phee Boon Poh was released by police at 6.05pm Monday.

The Star

Guan Eng out to tarnish Chinese media image

GEORGE TOWN: Penang Chinese media journalists and photographers have demanded an public apology from Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng for allegedly tarnishing their image.

Penang Press Club (PPC) president Teoh Boon Liang (pix) said that Lim was not telling the truth when he accused a senior reporter from a Chinese press for scolding state executive councillor Phee Boon Poh during a press conference on Aug 20.

In that press conference, senior journalist Chua Cheong Wee from Kwong Wah Yit Poh apparently questioned Phee, who handles welfare, caring society and environment portfolios, on whether underworld elements were involved in the Penang Voluntary Patrol Squad (PPS).

Teoh said Lim had misled the public to believe that a Chinese press reporter (Chua) had scolded Phee and acted impolitely at the press conference.

Teoh said Lim had also accused certain Chinese media of not being daring enough to confront Umno in the same manner without concrete evidence.

“CM Lim seems to have the bad intention to tarnish the image of the Chinese media. We have requested an apology from the CM on the accusation in our last statement.

“Hereby, we ask for his apology again,” said Teoh at a press conference here today.

The press conference was jointly held by PPC and the Penang Chinese Press Journalists and Photographers Association (Pewaju).

Also present were PPC vice-president Ang Tong Kai, assistant treasurer Loh Koon Huat and executive advisor Chew Hock Peng, and Pewaju vice-chairman Tan Hu Chuan.

Chua is Pewaju chairman.

Audio and video recordings of the Chua-Phee incident in question were also aired during the press conference.

When asked what the next course of action would be if Lim refused to apologise, Teoh said, “We will leave it to the people to judge.”

By Athi Shankar of Free Malaysia Today

Eleven PPS Members with Previous Criminal Records

The Star carried the following story headlined Penang police to continue sweep on remaining PPS members.

Please note the sections I put in large red font and highlighted in yellow. Shocking!

GEORGE TOWN: Penang police will continue its sweep on the remaining Penang Voluntary Patrol (PPS) members who have yet to be picked up.

Its police chief Senior Deputy Comm Datuk Wira Abdul Rahim Hanafi said it would be a continuous effort in their blitz against PPS, which was not registered with the Registrar of Societies (ROS).

“We will take further action against the remaining PPS members. Please surrender yourself.

“We will move in on stages. It is strictly on legal ground. It has nothing to do with politics.

“We already have records from 30% of the 9,000 odd PPS members,” he said during a press conference at George Town district police headquarters Monday.

The controversy surrounding the PPS unit came to a head on Sunday following the arrest of 156 members, including their chairman, state executive councillor Phee Boon Poh, after a Merdeka procession at the Esplanade.

The PPS members, including seven women, who took part in the state-level procession earlier, were escorted on foot to the Beach Street police station around 10.10am.

They were walking near the state legislative assembly in Light Street when about 50 policemen surrounded them.

They were arrested under Section 41 of the Societies Act.

It is learnt that PPS had taken part in the Merdeka procession since it was set up in 2011.

At the press conference, SDCP Rahim said 11 of the 156 PPS members detained had previous criminal records for theft, robbery, attempted murder, drug-related and triad-related offences.

He said one of them was believed to have links with triad activities as he was previously detained under the Emergency Ordinance 1969.

He added that four of them were also tested positive for drugs.

_______________________________________
NST also reported:

GEORGE TOWN: Penang police identified 11 members of the outlawed Voluntary Patrol Unit (PPS) with prior criminal records, with one member involved in secret society activities before.

State police chief Datuk Abdul Rahim Hanafi said out of the 11, four tested positive for drug use.

“Some of them had prior criminal convictions for attempted murder, theft, and one member was under the Emergency Ordinance,” he said in a press conference at the Northeast district police headquarters here today.

Abdul Rahim added that the 156 PPS members detained will be remanded for one more day beginning today.

“This includes the PPS chief, Phee Boon Poh,” he said.

Abdul Rahim also denied the state government's claim that it had sent a list of PPS members to the police for vetting.


"No such thing, I have not received a single name to be vetted," he said.

Source: NST

PPS: Abide by Law

The police took actions and arrested Penang Voluntary Patrol Squad (PPS) members who participated in the Penang Merdeka Day parade, intensifying the conflict.

The PPS caught attention after its members were accused of assaulting a journalist and members of the public, while the state government did not make it clear whether gangsters are involved in the squad.

After receiving reports from the public, the police made a statement, noting that the PPS has not been registered, highlighting the question of its legal status.

Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng claimed that he will fight to the end when defending the PPS, making the issue more acute.

The original intention of setting up the PPS was to help improving security and it was actually a good starting point.

However, according to Malaysian law, only the police and units that have permitted by law can carry out law enforcement. It is part of the rule of law to ensure only those who have undertaken complete training and qualified can perform public authority to avoid abuse of power.

It is also the principle of democratic societies ruled by law. Without such regulation, it could be expected that a number of law enforcement units would emerge with uneven quality and various motives. It could even lead to a threat of the formation of private societies which would not only not helping in maintaining community peace, but could bring chaos to the society.

To establish a patrol unit, the Penang state government must follow the law, instead of "fighting to the end", or what it is confronting is not a political opponent, but the country's rule of law.

In any case, the police would not have to deal with arrested PPS members as criminals. Most members joined the PPS without understanding the consequences of law.

However, the Penang state government should remedy the situation and not to let the members bear legal responsibility. If the state government really believes that the squad does help in maintaining the state's security, it should then register it and make it part of the legal system, making it a legal and regulatory unit.

For instance, the squad must have a clear purpose of establishment, meeting legal and social needs. The background of its members should be screened to avoid the penetration of gangsters. In addition, they must undertake trainings to ensure that they are professional enough to perform the tasks, and will not assault neither journalists nor members of the public.

Otherwise, there are other ways to improve security, such as expanding the People’s Volunteer Corps (Rela), encouraging ambitious people with clear backgrounds to join. Rela is formed and recognised by the country with well trained members.

As for the future of PPS, it still has to follow the law and be handled peacefully, instead of emotion and interest oriented, or the conflict will be intensified, resulting in a greater social contradiction.

Translated by Soong Phui Jee of Sin Chew Daily

Three PPS Members Tested Positive for Drugs?

When news first broke out about the PPS arrest, the first thing that crossed my mind was how this is a golden opportunity for PDRM to check the background of the members and to carry out tests on these members.

That the 156 members were arrested at the same time means for every single one of them, their urine/blood sample would be consistent (depending on their diet and other factors).

If all these 156 members and also every single member is clear from drugs or criminal records, then we can say CM Lim Guan Eng and Phee Boon Poh did a fantastic job screening the background of applicants to join PPS. 

But if it is proven otherwise....????

I did not have to wait long to get the answers.

New Straits Times just carried this news at THIS LINK.

Please see the following screenshot! What a crying shame on PPS!

Just yesterday in my post PPS: Setting the Record Straight, I asked a commenter in the TMI article who said:

"The people linked to the PPS have not committed any crime but on the other hand they worked to ensure the safety of the ordinary citizens and visitors to the state," he said.

• May I ask Mr. Paulsen if he has screened through ALL the background records of ALL the PPS members? 
• How does he know for sure that none of the people link to the PPS have not committed any crime?
• How does he know for sure that every single one of them has worked to ensure the safety of citizens and visitors? 
• If he has such supporting information to back up his statements, he should forward the information to the police to assist them in investigations. 

I need not wait for his answer because our efficient PDRM under the leadership of IGP Tan Sri Khalid have seen it fit to zoom in to arrest the PPS members and have unravelled new information that demands answers from Lim Guan Eng, Phee Boon Poh and the entire state government!

Out of 156 members (to be tested), the police have found three members, aged between 26 and 64, who:

• tested positive for drugs and would be investigated under the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952
• and are on police's wanted list with prior criminal records
• and will be under investigation under Societies Act

Bear in mind other PPS members assaulted a journalist (2013 January) and an activist (Aug 17th 2014) recently.

The PDRM must ensure all 9000 odd PPS members step forward to be identified and tested by the police. Failure to step forward voluntarily can be interpreted as evading the police for suspicious reasons. If they have NOTHING to hide, ALL PPS members MUST STEP FORWARD and give themselves up to the police for questioning and tests.

Will they step forward? We will see.
.

'When will I be arrested,' Guan Eng asks IGP.

Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng is mulling as to when the police will come after him on the state's voluntary patrol unit (PPS) issue, especially after 156 of its members were detained yesterday.

“Maybe I should ask, ‘When will I be arrested?’ I am waiting for him (Inspector-General of Police Khalid Abu Bakar),” Lim told reporters this morning.

The chief minister was speaking outside the Northeast District police headquarters, where the PPS members are being held pending their remand order to be issued by a magistrate.

Lim said the state government would not bow down to the IGP’s “threats” after he ordered the Penang police to arrest the PPS members, including state executive councillor Phee Boon Poh after the Merdeka March at the Esplanade yesterday.

“We are brave not because we are strong. We are weak. See, I was at the police headquarters until after 3am to appeal for the women and the senior citizens to be released because they did nothing wrong,” Lim said.

“So, we don't have the power like the IGP. But even if we are weak, we will not bow down to his threats, because of only one principle: the truth,” Lim added.

“We are brave because we are true. I know he (Khalid) is very brave because he has the power. I congratulate him. Syabas!”

Lim then challenged Khalid to a public debate on the PPS issue, asking if the federal police chief was “brave enough” to attend the session.

“Is he willing to debate on his irresponsible statement and arrest of Phee and also the taking of the chief minister’s statement last night?” Lim asked.

'Crackdown to undermine Penang government'

Lim said the police have started a massive crackdown to undermine the Pakatan Rakyat government in Penang.

He strongly condemned Phee’s arrest and the unwillingness of the police to release him, although they agreed to release seven women and 13 senior citizens aged 60 and above.

He questioned why Phee, who is 62, was not released.

Lim was upset with Khalid’s remarks  that PPS is “illegal” and its members were “gangsters”.

He questioned why police acted on reports by some newspapers, including the Chinese media, which had grudges against Phee and the PPS.

“Was it enough just to base its action on the reports and conclude that the PPS is samseng (gangsters)?” he asked.

“The PPS members were arrested not for rioting but for attending the Merdeka parade yesterday,” Lim added.

-Malaysiakini-

Video: KPN dicabar! Saksikan Video terkini ini!

Terkini GuanEng makin keras kepala. KPN @KBAB51 dicabar utk debat bg isu #PPS. @Huan2U | Saksikan Video "So What".


 

Khairy: PPS dangerous, crackdown justified *updated*

Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin today said he agreed with the police’s crackdown on the Penang Volunteer Corps (PPS), terming the group as “dangerous”.

Khairy, who is also Youth and Sports Minister, said that the volunteer corps had been “taking over” the task of police in the state.

“This is dangerous, I saw pictures of the Penang chief minister with a purple vest, there were ranks. But not registered. It’s dangerous,” he said.

Khairy spoke to reporters after attending an aerobics session organised by a radio station this morning.

Police yesterday detained 156 PPS members after they had marched in the Merdeka Day procession at the Esplanade in George Town.

PPS chairperson Phee Boon Poh, who is a state executive councillor, was also arrested.

Meanwhile, Khairy said it was not a problem for any volunteer corps to assist police in controlling security.

However, he stressed, it was important for the corps or unit to be registered with the Registrar of Societies (ROS) to facilitate matters.

The Rembau MP also questioned how prosecution was going to be carried out if a PPS member, when on patrol, mistakenly detains innocent individuals.

“How do we take action against PPS if it is not registered?” Khairy asked.

 Malaysiakini

PPS members detained for refusing to stop activities

Police have detained 154 Penang Voluntary Patrol Team (PPS) personnel for refusing to stop their activities after PPS was found to be an illegal organisation as it is not registered with the Registrar of Societies (RoS).

Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar said all PPS personnel, including seven women, were held at 10.15am in Padang Kota here to assist investigations under Section 41 of the Societies Act for not registering with RoS.

“Police started taking action against PPS personnel after they were adamant in carrying out their activities despite my prior warning that it is an illegal organisation that has been banned and all activities should cease immediately.

“They insisted on carrying their activities and deliberately wanted to challenge the country’s law and dared police to take action… they acted like gangsters,” he said when contacted by Bernama here today.

On Tuesday, Khalid had issued a statement that PPS was considered an illegal organisation that violated Section 41 of the Societies Act for not being registered with RoS.

Khalid said PPS should suspend all activities and write to RoS to seek clarification via the legal channel.
He said police had acted according to the law and would investigate and refer the case to the Attorney-General’s Chambers for further action.

He also told PPS leaders, including the Penang state exco member linked to PPS to go to any police station to assist investigations.

“If they do not turn up, police will be going to their houses to look for them.”

In another development, a group of lawyers comprising Ramkarpal Singh, R.S.N Rayer, Cheah Ka Peng and Soon Lip Chee, when met outside the Northeast district police headquarters, said they were prepared to represent all 154 PPS personnel arrested this morning.

“We have 10 lawyers to assist them (PPS personnel), we are sad over the incident today,” said Rayer.
Meanwhile, Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said the state government was ready to face any charge from the Royal Malaysian Police on the legitimacy of the Penang Voluntary Patrol Squad (PPS).

Lim said the state government did not have any problem with the police, but left it to the court to determine the legitimacy of the PPS.

“The state is taking full responsibility for the PPS and we will respect the law if the court makes a decision.

“We do not have any problem with the police, we’re just not satisfied with the statement made by the Inspector-General which is not in accordance with the law,” he told reporters after visiting the 154 PPS members arrested here today.

Earlier, about 154 members of the PPS were arrested by police after joining the Independence Day parade at the Esplanade here.

-The Rakyat Post -