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
Promoting Thinking Minds Via Rational Rationale
Showing posts with label IGP Khalid. Show all posts
Showing posts with label IGP Khalid. Show all posts
Tuesday, 9 September 2014
Friday, 5 September 2014
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!
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!
Thursday, 4 September 2014
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
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
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.
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:
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
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
Monday, 1 September 2014
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
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
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!
.jpg)
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.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!
- 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.
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.
“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".
Sunday, 31 August 2014
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 -
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 -
PPS: Setting the Record Straight
Citizen Times congratulates the IGP of Malaysia, Tan Sri Khalid and PDRM for their quick and timely action to nib in the bud the possible problems posed by Pasukan Peronda Sukarela (PPS) in zooming in for the mass arrest of PPS members at Esplanade, Penang today.
As a civic-conscious citizen, I would like to set the record straight regarding certain claims by various quarters.
I refer to The Malaysian Insider article: HERE
Well, they were warned and chose NOT to heed the warnings and instead, went ahead brazenly to play it according to their own rules of the game.
No one is above the law. No man can and no man should challenge the government or police.
If they dare, then they have to be ready to pay the price for their brazen insolence and disobedience.
Be fair in any judgement.
As a civic-conscious citizen, I would like to set the record straight regarding certain claims by various quarters.
I refer to The Malaysian Insider article: HERE
- Lawyers For Liberty executive director Eric Paulsen (pic) said the mass arrests were a clear abuse of power by the police as it is seen to have been carried out only because the PPS was linked to the DAP-led Penang government.
The above statement is not true because on 29th August, 2014, 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. (THE STAR)
- "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.
- Paulsen said there was double standards practised when Home Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi had even endorsed questionable organisations like Pekida and Tiga Line just because they were supportive of the government.
The above allegation is very serious. Citizen Times urges Paulsen to back up his statements.
- He also took a swipe at Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar for his lack of professionalism in applying the law fairly.
Not a fair statement at all. Below the belt hits do nothing for credibility.
- "Khalid has not changed for the better despite him being found liable by the High Court and the Court of Appeal recently for being responsible for the custodial death of A.Kugan in 2009 because he did not follow procedures," he said.
Once again, the above statement is unfair and totally uncalled for. He cannot compare a custodial death with PPS arrests. Paulsen should explain his rationale, if there is any.
- Khalid, in that case, was specially pointed out for abusing his authority while in office.
What is Paulsen trying to say by the above?
- Paulsen said this in response to the arrest of PPS members this morning, hours after Zahid advised Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng not to challenge the police on the legality of the organisation.
It just does not make sense that anyone would speak up against the arrests after a word of caution from the country's Home Minister.
- Suaram executive director Yap Swee Seng (pic, right) said he doubted very much police had the power to arrest PPS members just because they were not registered with the RoS.
Citizen Times would like to highlight Section 5 and 6 of the 1966 Societies Act:
5. (1) It shall be lawful for the Minister in his absolute discretion
by order to declare unlawful any society or branch or class or
description of any societies which in his opinion, is or is being
used for purposes prejudicial to or incompatible with the interest
of the security of Malaysia or any part thereof, public order or
morality.
(2) An order made under this section shall be published in the
Gazette and shall operate to cancel immediately the registration
of any such society or societies, if already registered under this
Act; and no society against which an order made under this section
applies shall be so registered.
(3) The provisions of section 17 shall apply in respect of a local
society affected by the order made under this section.Societies 13
Application for registration
6. (1) Every local society other than that in respect of which an
order made under section 5 is in force shall, in the manner prescribed
make application to the Registrar for registration under this Act.
(2) Until a local society is registered under this Act, no person
shall, without a written permission of the Registrar, organize or
take part in any activity of or on behalf of the society, except only
to apply to, or correspond with the Registrar.
(3) Any person committing a breach of subsection (2) shall be
guilty of an offence and shall on conviction be liable to a fine not
exceeding *five thousand ringgit, and where the breach is a continuing
one to a fine not exceeding **five hundred ringgit for every day
after the first day during which the breach continues.
Power of Registrar to make inquiries, etc. in relation to any
application under this Act
6A. (1) The Registrar may, in relation to any application under
section 6, subsection 11(1), subsection 12(1), section 49,
subsection 50(1), or any other provision of this Act or regulations
made thereunder, call for such further information, and make such
inquiries, as he may consider necessary.
(2) Where a person making any application as is referred to in
subsection (1) fails to supply the further information called for,
or answer the inquiries made, to the satisfaction of the Registrar,
he may refuse the application.
Registration and refusal to register
7. (1) Upon receipt of an application under section 6, the Registrar
shall, subject to the provisions of this section and to such conditions
as the Registrar may deem fit to impose, register the local society
making the application.
(2) The Registrar may refuse to register a local society if—
(a) he is satisfied that such a society is a branch of any
society whose registration has been cancelled under
paragraph 13(1)(c); or
*NOTE —Previously “two thousand ringgit”–see the Societies (Amendment) Act 1998 [Act A1027].
**NOTE —Previously “two hundred ringgit”–see the Societies (Amendment) Act 1998 [Act A1027].14 Laws of Malaysia ACT 335
(b) he is not satisfied that such local society has complied
with the provisions of this Act and of the regulations
made thereunder; or
(c) a dispute exists among the members of such local society
as to the persons who are to be office-bearers or to hold
or to administer any property of the society until the
dispute is decided by a Court or by arbitration or by
agreement between the members or otherwise.
(3) The Registrar shall refuse to register a local society where—
(a) it appears to him that such local society is unlawful under
the provisions of this Act or any other written law or is
likely to be used for unlawful purposes or any purpose
prejudicial to or incompatible with peace, welfare, security,
public order, good order or morality in Malaysia;
(b) the society has been declared by the Minister to be unlawful
under section 5;
(c) the Registrar is satisfied that the society does not exist;
(d) the name under which the society is to be registered—
(i) appears to the Registrar to mislead or be calculated
to mislead members of the public as to the true
character or purpose of the society or so nearly
resembles the name of such other society as is
likely to deceive the members of the public or
members of either society;
(ii) is identical to that of any other existing local society;
or
(iii) is, in the opinion of the Registrar, undesirable;
(e) the constitution or rules of the society do not contain
provisions for all matters set out in Schedule I to this Act
or if the society is a mutual benefit society, matters set
out in Schedule II or any other matters which the Registrar
may reasonably require.
(4) Where the Registrar has refused to register a local society
under this section, the provisions of section 17 shall apply to that
local society.Societies 15
(5) Any society that contravenes any condition imposed on it
by the Registrar under subsection (1) shall be guilty of an offence
and shall be liable, on conviction, to a fine not exceeding two
thousand ringgit.
- He said it had been legally pronounced that any unregistered society could function as long it was not a threat to national security, public order and morality.
According to the Deputy Home Minister:
State governments have no jurisdiction over security matters, said Deputy Home Minister Datuk Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar, echoing the Registrar of Societies' (ROS) claim that Penang's Voluntary Patrol Unit (PPS) is illegal.
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.
- Yap said an unregistered society must not be equated with an illegal entity and this had been affirmed in a 2012 High Court ruling brought by electoral reform group, Bersih 2.0.
Perhaps Yap Swee Seng missed the announcement by Deputy Home Minister that Penang voluntary unit is illegal as state governments have no say in security. Check HERE.
- "You cannot declare a society illegal just because it has not been registered," he said.
Mr Yap, it is NOT just because of that. Deputy Home Minister Wan Junaidi already explained:
1. 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.
2. National security, he said, was placed under the powers and regulation of the central government.
- Human Rights lawyer Andrew Khoo (pic, below) said the arrest was not appropriate and lacked in judgement as the PPS members participated in a patriotic event in conjunction with Merdeka Day.
They were already warned. PPS and the state government were cautioned by Home Minister, Deputy Home Minister, IGP and RoS. They all KNOW the law and chose to break the law. Please read Advice from Home Minister, Deputy Home Minister IGP and RoS - Brazenly Ignored by LGE
- "Were they told what offence was committed that warranted such mass arrest. Were they given legal representation as required under the law before statements were recorded," he asked.
According to the many reports before and after, they were told and warned but they chose not to heed the advice.
- He said PPS members were victimised because of a clash between Penang and Putrajaya.
The above statement is very unfair. Please support such a baseless allegation.
- Society for the Promotion of Human Rights in Malaysia secretary-general Datuk Dr Denison Jayasooria said the Penang government should have discussed with the ministry before the PPS was launched.
- "The ministry is of the view that some activities of the PPS came under its jurisdiction," he said, adding that both sides should sit down and thrash out the matter.
The above statements are true but the state government chose to do it THEIR way. What to do?
- However, he said police should have exercised restrain and the arrest would be seen as politically-motivated since it happened during a national day event.
Well, they were warned and chose NOT to heed the warnings and instead, went ahead brazenly to play it according to their own rules of the game.
No one is above the law. No man can and no man should challenge the government or police.
If they dare, then they have to be ready to pay the price for their brazen insolence and disobedience.
Be fair in any judgement.
IGP: PPS members arrested for challenging law
"I have given warning to not run any activity or I will make arrest but it seems that this organisation is stubborn," he said in an interview with RTM.
"They challenge the laws of our country by purposely continuing their activities."
Some 154 members in a PPS contingent were arrested immediately after they had completed a march past for the official state-level Merdeka Day celebrations at Padang Kota Lama in George Town this morning. –
MORE TO COME from The Malaysian Insider.
Arrested PPS Members Could Spend Night in Lockup
Opalyn Mok of The Malay Mail reported:
The 154 Penang volunteer patrol unit (PPS) members arrested this morning could be locked up for the night as police are refusing to release them yet, said lawyers appointed by the state government to represent the detainees.
Bukit Gelugor MP Ramkarpal Singh Deo and Seri Delima state assemblyman RSN Rayer, who are leading a team of lawyers to represent the PPS members, said the members have been told that police may be remanding them to assist in the probe against the unit.
“We’ve been informed that they might be kept here overnight pending investigations and we are waiting to talk to the police to represent all of them,” Ramkarpal told reporters outside the police headquarters today.
He said they will be insisting on representing all of the PPS members and to fight for their release.
“There is no necessity to keep them overnight. It is ridiculous, they have no basis to keep them overnight,” he said.
Ramkarpal added that they will contest any application to remand the group should the police attempt to do so tomorrow.
“There is no reason to remand them at all. They were merely participating in a peaceful march in front of the Penang governor and the Penang chief minister in an orderly peaceful manner,” he said.
Ramkarpal pointed out that there were no signs of disturbances from the PPS members this morning and that they had cooperated with the police when suddenly arrested.
“We will all stay with them here and be behind them all the way until they are released,” he said.
The lawyers were waiting to be allowed to speak to those arrested and also to secure their release.
The PPS members, consisting of members of all ages including senior citizens and seven women, were unexpectedly arrested at 10am this morning after they participated in the Merdeka celebration parade at Esplanade.
They were first led to the Beach Street police station before they were taken in a bus to the district headquarters at around noon.
The PPS became the centre of controversy after a 51-year-old man alleged that its members had attacked him.
This had led to an uproar with Barisan Nasional leaders urging for the unit to be disbanded while Malay rights group Perkasa also lodged police reports urging the police to investigate the unit’s activities.
Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar responded by saying the group is illegal and that the police is investigating it under Section 41 of the Societies Act as it is not registered with the Registrar of Societies (RoS).
He then warned PPS members of arrest if they continued to participate in the unit’s activities.
Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng responded by pledging legal assistance to any PPS members “wrongly arrested” while serving with the unit.
The PPS was formed by the state government in May 2011 to assist the public in all situations including directing traffic, in times of disaster and to patrol the streets as a preventive measure against crime.
Currently, there are more than 9,000 PPS members in the state and the members have all undergone various courses that include first aid and disaster management.
The Malay Mail
The 154 Penang volunteer patrol unit (PPS) members arrested this morning could be locked up for the night as police are refusing to release them yet, said lawyers appointed by the state government to represent the detainees.
Bukit Gelugor MP Ramkarpal Singh Deo and Seri Delima state assemblyman RSN Rayer, who are leading a team of lawyers to represent the PPS members, said the members have been told that police may be remanding them to assist in the probe against the unit.
“We’ve been informed that they might be kept here overnight pending investigations and we are waiting to talk to the police to represent all of them,” Ramkarpal told reporters outside the police headquarters today.
He said they will be insisting on representing all of the PPS members and to fight for their release.
“There is no necessity to keep them overnight. It is ridiculous, they have no basis to keep them overnight,” he said.
Ramkarpal added that they will contest any application to remand the group should the police attempt to do so tomorrow.
“There is no reason to remand them at all. They were merely participating in a peaceful march in front of the Penang governor and the Penang chief minister in an orderly peaceful manner,” he said.
Ramkarpal pointed out that there were no signs of disturbances from the PPS members this morning and that they had cooperated with the police when suddenly arrested.
“We will all stay with them here and be behind them all the way until they are released,” he said.
The lawyers were waiting to be allowed to speak to those arrested and also to secure their release.
The PPS members, consisting of members of all ages including senior citizens and seven women, were unexpectedly arrested at 10am this morning after they participated in the Merdeka celebration parade at Esplanade.
They were first led to the Beach Street police station before they were taken in a bus to the district headquarters at around noon.
The PPS became the centre of controversy after a 51-year-old man alleged that its members had attacked him.
This had led to an uproar with Barisan Nasional leaders urging for the unit to be disbanded while Malay rights group Perkasa also lodged police reports urging the police to investigate the unit’s activities.
Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar responded by saying the group is illegal and that the police is investigating it under Section 41 of the Societies Act as it is not registered with the Registrar of Societies (RoS).
He then warned PPS members of arrest if they continued to participate in the unit’s activities.
Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng responded by pledging legal assistance to any PPS members “wrongly arrested” while serving with the unit.
The PPS was formed by the state government in May 2011 to assist the public in all situations including directing traffic, in times of disaster and to patrol the streets as a preventive measure against crime.
Currently, there are more than 9,000 PPS members in the state and the members have all undergone various courses that include first aid and disaster management.
The Malay Mail
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
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
Advice from Home Minister, Deputy Home Minister IGP and RoS - Brazenly Ignored by LGE
Who is to be blamed for the arrest of PPS members in Penang? Before you say anything, consider the advice of the following persons.
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.
Police will arrest members of Penang Voluntary Patrol Squad (PPS) if they continue the activities of the
illegal society.
State governments have no jurisdiction over security matters, said Deputy Home Minister Datuk Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar, echoing the Registrar of Societies' (ROS) claim that Penang's Voluntary Patrol Unit (PPS) is illegal.
Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng had said that the objective of the unit is to assist police and local authorities in ensuring safety to make Penang the safest state in Malaysia.
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.
Guan Eng to IGP: See you in court on PPS
The Penang government is prepared to go to court to prove the legality of the voluntary patrol unit (PPS) where 154 of them were detained by police after participating in the Merdeka parade this morning.
Speaking to reporters outside the Northeast Police Headquarters in Jalan Patani, Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said the state is confident of the legality of the PPS which was set up in 2010 to respond to disasters and provide community service to the public.
"We - the state executive council members and I as chief minister - are fully responsible for the PPS, for they were formed as a state government body, under state powers, there is no need for the IGP's threat to raid their homes in search of those responsible," Lim said.
Lim was responding to Inspector General of Police Khalid Abu Bakar's (right) warning to the PPS members to surrender of face a raid at their homes.
Khalid has deemed illegal the voluntary team - which has 200 over teams and over 7,000 members to date - as the group was not registered with the Registrar of Societies.
The 154 were hauled up after marching in the Merdeka parade in the Esplanade, and would probably be held overnight by the police, pending their remand applications.
Lim then announced that all activities by the volunteer group will be withheld for the next 24 hours as the comrades of those arrested wish to show support and solidarity to their friends.
"We will make a further announcement about this matter tomorrow after a meeting," Lim said.
The DAP secretary-general said so far four lawyers - more will be roped in - are assisting to secure the release of the PPS members.
"We hope the police will expedite the process so that we do not need to hold them overnight or further remand them," he said.
"We will uphold our promise to defend these members - who are loyal to the country and who obey the law - legally and financially," he added.
Malaysiakini
Speaking to reporters outside the Northeast Police Headquarters in Jalan Patani, Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said the state is confident of the legality of the PPS which was set up in 2010 to respond to disasters and provide community service to the public.
"We - the state executive council members and I as chief minister - are fully responsible for the PPS, for they were formed as a state government body, under state powers, there is no need for the IGP's threat to raid their homes in search of those responsible," Lim said.
Lim was responding to Inspector General of Police Khalid Abu Bakar's (right) warning to the PPS members to surrender of face a raid at their homes.
Khalid has deemed illegal the voluntary team - which has 200 over teams and over 7,000 members to date - as the group was not registered with the Registrar of Societies.
The 154 were hauled up after marching in the Merdeka parade in the Esplanade, and would probably be held overnight by the police, pending their remand applications.
Lim then announced that all activities by the volunteer group will be withheld for the next 24 hours as the comrades of those arrested wish to show support and solidarity to their friends.
"We will make a further announcement about this matter tomorrow after a meeting," Lim said.
The DAP secretary-general said so far four lawyers - more will be roped in - are assisting to secure the release of the PPS members.
"We hope the police will expedite the process so that we do not need to hold them overnight or further remand them," he said.
"We will uphold our promise to defend these members - who are loyal to the country and who obey the law - legally and financially," he added.
Malaysiakini
IGP wants probe on tweets insulting him
nspector-General of Police (IGP) Khalid Abu Bakar has asked the force's cyber investigation unit (PCIRC) to act against individuals who insulted him on social networking site Twitter.
Khalid posted screenshots in his own Twitter account of two individuals who tagged Khalid with insulting messages directed at the police chief.
Although the reason for their outburst is unclear but it could be related to the police's action against the Penang Voluntary Unit (PPS) earlier today.
In both Twitter postings, Khalid mentioned PCIRC and requested that action be taken against them.
In one posting, a man tagged Khalid and called him "anjing BN" (BN dog), while another posted, "Thanks to ruthless (Khalid), Henrich Himmler of Malaysia."
More to follow from Malaysiakini
Malaysian netizens, we have a vey good IGP Tan Sri Khalid who walks his talk. Follow the chronology of events listed in the previous post.
He has been fair in giving warnings to PPS members.
And he took the right step in taking action when PPS and state government including CM Lim challenged his statements and called him a liar and bully.
Please be fair.
So many Malaysians are condemning the police for not doing their work and this is NOT true.
Here the IGP is really doing his work and maintaining law and order and we have disrespectful netizens bombarding IGP.
Please show your support for our IGP, PDRM and government.
Stand and speak up for truth and justice. Show your support in Twitter or in net space including this blog.
Thank you.
Khalid posted screenshots in his own Twitter account of two individuals who tagged Khalid with insulting messages directed at the police chief.
Although the reason for their outburst is unclear but it could be related to the police's action against the Penang Voluntary Unit (PPS) earlier today.
In both Twitter postings, Khalid mentioned PCIRC and requested that action be taken against them.
In one posting, a man tagged Khalid and called him "anjing BN" (BN dog), while another posted, "Thanks to ruthless (Khalid), Henrich Himmler of Malaysia."
More to follow from Malaysiakini
Malaysian netizens, we have a vey good IGP Tan Sri Khalid who walks his talk. Follow the chronology of events listed in the previous post.
He has been fair in giving warnings to PPS members.
And he took the right step in taking action when PPS and state government including CM Lim challenged his statements and called him a liar and bully.
Please be fair.
So many Malaysians are condemning the police for not doing their work and this is NOT true.
Here the IGP is really doing his work and maintaining law and order and we have disrespectful netizens bombarding IGP.
Please show your support for our IGP, PDRM and government.
Stand and speak up for truth and justice. Show your support in Twitter or in net space including this blog.
Thank you.
Surrender before we raid homes, IGP warns PPS
Inspector-General of Police Khalid Abu Bakar has issued an ultimatum to the Penang Voluntary Unit (PPS) to turn themselves in or face the risk of their homes being raided.
"Police's action against PPS in Penang - It is best for those responsible for PPS to surrender before we raid (their) homes," he said in a Twitter posting this morning.
The comment came as some 250 PPS members were hauled up by police today for participating in the Independence Day parade in Penang.
It is unclear what the actual charge the police are using is.
However this week Khalid claimed the PPS was illegal because it is not registered with the Registrar of Societies (ROS).
The Penang government has rubbished this, stating that the PPS was no different than local village committees which are also not registered.
The PPS was formed by the state government in 2010 as a volunteer group to respond to disaster situations.
'State agency not illegal'
PPS comprises 256 teams with 7,702 members who provide community service and assist in handling traffic congestion during weddings, funeral and other events during festivities.
The unit came into the limelight recently when businessman Ong Eu Soon alleged that two PPS members had attacked him.
The two men also lodged police reports claiming that it was Ong who had first attacked them.
Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng yesterday vowed to fight in court if PPS members are arrested for simply being part of the outfit.
Meanwhile, NGO Solidariti Anak Malaysia (Samm) condemned the arrests of what it says were merely volunteers serving the community.
"Their arrest proves the police are insensitive towards those who assist the police force in security for villages and residential areas to curb crime and ensure welfare," said Penang Samm coordinator Aidil Fitri Ibrahim.
He also dismissed police’s claims that PPS was illegal, stating that the body was set up by the state government thus has the status of a state agency.
-Malaysiakini-
"Police's action against PPS in Penang - It is best for those responsible for PPS to surrender before we raid (their) homes," he said in a Twitter posting this morning.
The comment came as some 250 PPS members were hauled up by police today for participating in the Independence Day parade in Penang.
It is unclear what the actual charge the police are using is.
However this week Khalid claimed the PPS was illegal because it is not registered with the Registrar of Societies (ROS).
The Penang government has rubbished this, stating that the PPS was no different than local village committees which are also not registered.
The PPS was formed by the state government in 2010 as a volunteer group to respond to disaster situations.
'State agency not illegal'
PPS comprises 256 teams with 7,702 members who provide community service and assist in handling traffic congestion during weddings, funeral and other events during festivities.
The unit came into the limelight recently when businessman Ong Eu Soon alleged that two PPS members had attacked him.
The two men also lodged police reports claiming that it was Ong who had first attacked them.
Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng yesterday vowed to fight in court if PPS members are arrested for simply being part of the outfit.
Meanwhile, NGO Solidariti Anak Malaysia (Samm) condemned the arrests of what it says were merely volunteers serving the community.
"Their arrest proves the police are insensitive towards those who assist the police force in security for villages and residential areas to curb crime and ensure welfare," said Penang Samm coordinator Aidil Fitri Ibrahim.
He also dismissed police’s claims that PPS was illegal, stating that the body was set up by the state government thus has the status of a state agency.
-Malaysiakini-
Chronology of Events Before PPS Arrest
WHO IS RIGHT AND WHO IS WRONG? YOU BE THE JUDGE!
1. IGP issued Warning to PPS to stop Activities or Face Arrest
The Star, 29th August 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.
2. FMT reported: IGP a bully and a liar, says Guan Eng
GEORGE TOWN: Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng has pledged that his government will provide lawyers and legal funding for Voluntary Patrol Squad (PPS) members who are wrongly arrested by police.
In a press statement today, Lim called Inspector-General of Police Khalid Abu Bakar a bully for threatening to arrest PPS members if they continued with their activities and a liar for saying PPS had strayed from its original objective of serving the public.
A Bernama report yesterday quoted Khalid as saying: “PPS appears to have strayed from its objective when it was established four years ago to serve the community but have now started hitting people.”
Lim denied Khalid’s allegation, but promised that his government would “act sternly” against any PPS member who is guilty of any wrongdoing.
Referring to Khalid’s threat, he said: “Why should the nearly 10,000 members in PPS be punished for the wrongful act of one PPS member? If that is the case, can the IGP answer whether the entire 120,000 police forced should be punished just because of the criminal acts of several policemen committing crimes, beating up people, even causing death in lock-ups or during interrogation?”
Lim pointed to a contradiction between Khalid’s statement that PPS was an illegal organisation and his remark that it had strayed from its original objectives. “The IGP admitted that when PPS was established four years ago, it did good in serving the public. In other words, PPS was legal four years ago, but not now because PPS members were now hitting people.”
He said his government was willing to go to court to defend its right to form PPS.
3. The Rakyat Post, 31st August 2014:
Khalid a liar, says Guan Eng
KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 30, 2014:
Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng reiterated his defence of the Penang Voluntary Patrol Squad (PPS) after Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar said the police would arrest its members over activities of the “illegal society”.
In a statement today, Lim said the Penang state government would also provide lawyers and legal funding to defend any PPS member “wrongly arrested by police”.
Lim added by arresting the members, Khalid was giving new reason for wanting to stop PPS members from continuing to help the public.
“Khalid is not only wrong, but a liar for stating that PPS had strayed from its original objectives of helping the people and patrolling to protect public safety.
“PPS has never strayed from its original objectives of serving the public. 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.”
He repeated questions as to why no action was taken against PPS when it was established by the state government four years ago, drawing similarities to the Village Security and Development Committees (JKKK) set up by the federal government after the 2008 General Election.
“If JKKK is not wrong, why is there double standards by the IGP to declare PPS set up by the Penang state government as illegal?”
Lim said the state government was willing to go to court to defend the formation of the PPS as it did JKKK, encouraging the community to be responsible in community policing.
“Let the whole world see the Malaysian police arrest not criminals, but PPS members for being good Samaritans helping people.
“Similarly the Penang state government guarantees that it will act sternly to punish any PPS member committing criminal wrongdoings.”
The PPS sparked argument between the Chief Minister and the head of police after it was called a vigilante group.
Both Deputy Home Minister Datuk Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar and Khalid labelled the body as illegal after the latter alleged that PPS members had been hitting people, including some journalists.
Because of this, the IGP also said that the PPS appeared to have strayed from the original objective of its establishment four years ago, which was to serve the community.
3b. The Rakyat Post
Yesterday, Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng at a PPS event in Komtar was reported as saying that the PPS should not be afraid of police action and the state would provide all the necessary assistance including legal help to them should they be arrested.
He said that PPS should continue with its services with the backup of the state government to ensure that Penang is safe through the state-run body’s commitment in assisting police in patrolling the streets in crime prevention.
4. Malaysiakini 30th August 2014
Penang to fight any police action against PPS
Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng has vowed to defend members of the Penang Voluntary Patrol Squad (PPS) from any police action for simply being associated with the body.
"The Penang state government will provide lawyers and legal funding to defend any PPS member who is wrongly arrested by police, not for any criminal wrongdoing, but merely for being a good Samaritan and helping the public.
"This follows the bullying threats by Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Khalid Abu Bakar who said that police will arrest members of the PPS if they continued their activities," said Lim in a statement this afternoon.
Khalid had reportedly said yesterday that PPS had strayed from its objective of public safety and assaulted members of the public with at least two police reports against the body.
He also declared PPS to be illegal as it was not registered with the Registrar of Societies (ROS).
However, Lim called Khalid a "liar", insisting that PPS had and still is focussed on public safety.
If there are any criminal incidents involving PPS that are wrong, the Penang state government will co-operate fully with the police in taking stern action, he added.
Penang state exco member Phee Boon Poh is personally in charge and has taken full responsibility to ensure that PPS members found to have committed wrongdoings are punished,he said.
Lim also said that PPS was set up by the state government four years ago and its legality had never been questioned until now with local police even cooperating with the body.
'Is police force punished for bad apples?'
He said PPS was no different than the local development and safety village committees (JKKK) which are also not ROS registered.
Lim said an isolated assault case should not cause the entire PPS to be penalised.
"Why should the nearly 10,000 members in PPS be punished for the wrongful acts of one member?
"If that is the case, can the IGP answer whether the entire 120,000 police force should be punished just because of the criminal acts of several policemen committing crime, beating up people, even causing death whether in lock-ups or during interrogations?" he said.
Lim said the PPS is to encourage citizens to take part in community policing and reiterated that the state government was prepared to go to court to defend this.
"Let the whole world see the Malaysian police arrest, not criminals, but PPS members for being good Samaritans by helping people.
"Similarly the Penang state government guarantees that it will act sternly to punish any PPS member committing criminal wrongdoings," he said.
Earlier this month, vocal critic of the state government accused a PPS member of assaulting him.
Subsequently, Parti Cinta Malaysia vice president Huan Cheng Guan accused PPS of being misused by the DAP-led state government for party work.
5. The Malaysian Insider 28th August 2014
State governments have no jurisdiction over security matters, said Deputy Home Minister Datuk Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar, echoing the Registrar of Societies' (ROS) claim that Penang's Voluntary Patrol Unit (PPS) is illegal.
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.
Sedition Act 1948 can be viewed here
Societies Act 1966 can be viewed here
Excerpt from Section 5 and 6:
Power of the Minister to declare a society unlawful
5. (1) It shall be lawful for the Minister in his absolute discretion
by order to declare unlawful any society or branch or class or
description of any societies which in his opinion, is or is being
used for purposes prejudicial to or incompatible with the interest
of the security of Malaysia or any part thereof, public order or
morality.
(2) An order made under this section shall be published in the
Gazette and shall operate to cancel immediately the registration
of any such society or societies, if already registered under this
Act; and no society against which an order made under this section
applies shall be so registered.
(3) The provisions of section 17 shall apply in respect of a local
society affected by the order made under this section.Societies 13
Application for registration
6. (1) Every local society other than that in respect of which an
order made under section 5 is in force shall, in the manner prescribed
make application to the Registrar for registration under this Act.
(2) Until a local society is registered under this Act, no person
shall, without a written permission of the Registrar, organize or
take part in any activity of or on behalf of the society, except only
to apply to, or correspond with the Registrar.
(3) Any person committing a breach of subsection (2) shall be
guilty of an offence and shall on conviction be liable to a fine not
exceeding *five thousand ringgit, and where the breach is a continuing
one to a fine not exceeding **five hundred ringgit for every day
after the first day during which the breach continues.
Power of Registrar to make inquiries, etc. in relation to any
application under this Act
6A. (1) The Registrar may, in relation to any application under
section 6, subsection 11(1), subsection 12(1), section 49,
subsection 50(1), or any other provision of this Act or regulations
made thereunder, call for such further information, and make such
inquiries, as he may consider necessary.
(2) Where a person making any application as is referred to in
subsection (1) fails to supply the further information called for,
or answer the inquiries made, to the satisfaction of the Registrar,
he may refuse the application.
Registration and refusal to register
7. (1) Upon receipt of an application under section 6, the Registrar
shall, subject to the provisions of this section and to such conditions
as the Registrar may deem fit to impose, register the local society
making the application.
(2) The Registrar may refuse to register a local society if—
(a) he is satisfied that such a society is a branch of any
society whose registration has been cancelled under
paragraph 13(1)(c); or
*NOTE —Previously “two thousand ringgit”–see the Societies (Amendment) Act 1998 [Act A1027].
**NOTE —Previously “two hundred ringgit”–see the Societies (Amendment) Act 1998 [Act A1027].14 Laws of Malaysia ACT 335
(b) he is not satisfied that such local society has complied
with the provisions of this Act and of the regulations
made thereunder; or
(c) a dispute exists among the members of such local society
as to the persons who are to be office-bearers or to hold
or to administer any property of the society until the
dispute is decided by a Court or by arbitration or by
agreement between the members or otherwise.
(3) The Registrar shall refuse to register a local society where—
(a) it appears to him that such local society is unlawful under
the provisions of this Act or any other written law or is
likely to be used for unlawful purposes or any purpose
prejudicial to or incompatible with peace, welfare, security,
public order, good order or morality in Malaysia;
(b) the society has been declared by the Minister to be unlawful
under section 5;
(c) the Registrar is satisfied that the society does not exist;
(d) the name under which the society is to be registered—
(i) appears to the Registrar to mislead or be calculated
to mislead members of the public as to the true
character or purpose of the society or so nearly
resembles the name of such other society as is
likely to deceive the members of the public or
members of either society;
(ii) is identical to that of any other existing local society;
or
(iii) is, in the opinion of the Registrar, undesirable;
(e) the constitution or rules of the society do not contain
provisions for all matters set out in Schedule I to this Act
or if the society is a mutual benefit society, matters set
out in Schedule II or any other matters which the Registrar
may reasonably require.
(4) Where the Registrar has refused to register a local society
under this section, the provisions of section 17 shall apply to that
local society.Societies 15
(5) Any society that contravenes any condition imposed on it
by the Registrar under subsection (1) shall be guilty of an offence
and shall be liable, on conviction, to a fine not exceeding two
thousand ringgit.
Please see Section 41 to 48 HERE
1. IGP issued Warning to PPS to stop Activities or Face Arrest
The Star, 29th August 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.
2. FMT reported: IGP a bully and a liar, says Guan Eng
GEORGE TOWN: Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng has pledged that his government will provide lawyers and legal funding for Voluntary Patrol Squad (PPS) members who are wrongly arrested by police.
In a press statement today, Lim called Inspector-General of Police Khalid Abu Bakar a bully for threatening to arrest PPS members if they continued with their activities and a liar for saying PPS had strayed from its original objective of serving the public.
A Bernama report yesterday quoted Khalid as saying: “PPS appears to have strayed from its objective when it was established four years ago to serve the community but have now started hitting people.”
Lim denied Khalid’s allegation, but promised that his government would “act sternly” against any PPS member who is guilty of any wrongdoing.
Referring to Khalid’s threat, he said: “Why should the nearly 10,000 members in PPS be punished for the wrongful act of one PPS member? If that is the case, can the IGP answer whether the entire 120,000 police forced should be punished just because of the criminal acts of several policemen committing crimes, beating up people, even causing death in lock-ups or during interrogation?”
Lim pointed to a contradiction between Khalid’s statement that PPS was an illegal organisation and his remark that it had strayed from its original objectives. “The IGP admitted that when PPS was established four years ago, it did good in serving the public. In other words, PPS was legal four years ago, but not now because PPS members were now hitting people.”
He said his government was willing to go to court to defend its right to form PPS.
3. The Rakyat Post, 31st August 2014:
Khalid a liar, says Guan Eng
KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 30, 2014:
Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng reiterated his defence of the Penang Voluntary Patrol Squad (PPS) after Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar said the police would arrest its members over activities of the “illegal society”.
In a statement today, Lim said the Penang state government would also provide lawyers and legal funding to defend any PPS member “wrongly arrested by police”.
Lim added by arresting the members, Khalid was giving new reason for wanting to stop PPS members from continuing to help the public.
“Khalid is not only wrong, but a liar for stating that PPS had strayed from its original objectives of helping the people and patrolling to protect public safety.
“PPS has never strayed from its original objectives of serving the public. 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.”
He repeated questions as to why no action was taken against PPS when it was established by the state government four years ago, drawing similarities to the Village Security and Development Committees (JKKK) set up by the federal government after the 2008 General Election.
“If JKKK is not wrong, why is there double standards by the IGP to declare PPS set up by the Penang state government as illegal?”
Lim said the state government was willing to go to court to defend the formation of the PPS as it did JKKK, encouraging the community to be responsible in community policing.
“Let the whole world see the Malaysian police arrest not criminals, but PPS members for being good Samaritans helping people.
“Similarly the Penang state government guarantees that it will act sternly to punish any PPS member committing criminal wrongdoings.”
The PPS sparked argument between the Chief Minister and the head of police after it was called a vigilante group.
Both Deputy Home Minister Datuk Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar and Khalid labelled the body as illegal after the latter alleged that PPS members had been hitting people, including some journalists.
Because of this, the IGP also said that the PPS appeared to have strayed from the original objective of its establishment four years ago, which was to serve the community.
3b. The Rakyat Post
Yesterday, Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng at a PPS event in Komtar was reported as saying that the PPS should not be afraid of police action and the state would provide all the necessary assistance including legal help to them should they be arrested.
He said that PPS should continue with its services with the backup of the state government to ensure that Penang is safe through the state-run body’s commitment in assisting police in patrolling the streets in crime prevention.
4. Malaysiakini 30th August 2014
Penang to fight any police action against PPS
Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng has vowed to defend members of the Penang Voluntary Patrol Squad (PPS) from any police action for simply being associated with the body.
"The Penang state government will provide lawyers and legal funding to defend any PPS member who is wrongly arrested by police, not for any criminal wrongdoing, but merely for being a good Samaritan and helping the public.
"This follows the bullying threats by Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Khalid Abu Bakar who said that police will arrest members of the PPS if they continued their activities," said Lim in a statement this afternoon.
Khalid had reportedly said yesterday that PPS had strayed from its objective of public safety and assaulted members of the public with at least two police reports against the body.
He also declared PPS to be illegal as it was not registered with the Registrar of Societies (ROS).
However, Lim called Khalid a "liar", insisting that PPS had and still is focussed on public safety.
If there are any criminal incidents involving PPS that are wrong, the Penang state government will co-operate fully with the police in taking stern action, he added.
Penang state exco member Phee Boon Poh is personally in charge and has taken full responsibility to ensure that PPS members found to have committed wrongdoings are punished,he said.
Lim also said that PPS was set up by the state government four years ago and its legality had never been questioned until now with local police even cooperating with the body.
'Is police force punished for bad apples?'
He said PPS was no different than the local development and safety village committees (JKKK) which are also not ROS registered.
Lim said an isolated assault case should not cause the entire PPS to be penalised.
"Why should the nearly 10,000 members in PPS be punished for the wrongful acts of one member?
"If that is the case, can the IGP answer whether the entire 120,000 police force should be punished just because of the criminal acts of several policemen committing crime, beating up people, even causing death whether in lock-ups or during interrogations?" he said.
Lim said the PPS is to encourage citizens to take part in community policing and reiterated that the state government was prepared to go to court to defend this.
"Let the whole world see the Malaysian police arrest, not criminals, but PPS members for being good Samaritans by helping people.
"Similarly the Penang state government guarantees that it will act sternly to punish any PPS member committing criminal wrongdoings," he said.
Earlier this month, vocal critic of the state government accused a PPS member of assaulting him.
Subsequently, Parti Cinta Malaysia vice president Huan Cheng Guan accused PPS of being misused by the DAP-led state government for party work.
5. The Malaysian Insider 28th August 2014
State governments have no jurisdiction over security matters, said Deputy Home Minister Datuk Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar, echoing the Registrar of Societies' (ROS) claim that Penang's Voluntary Patrol Unit (PPS) is illegal.
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.
Sedition Act 1948 can be viewed here
Societies Act 1966 can be viewed here
Excerpt from Section 5 and 6:
Power of the Minister to declare a society unlawful
5. (1) It shall be lawful for the Minister in his absolute discretion
by order to declare unlawful any society or branch or class or
description of any societies which in his opinion, is or is being
used for purposes prejudicial to or incompatible with the interest
of the security of Malaysia or any part thereof, public order or
morality.
(2) An order made under this section shall be published in the
Gazette and shall operate to cancel immediately the registration
of any such society or societies, if already registered under this
Act; and no society against which an order made under this section
applies shall be so registered.
(3) The provisions of section 17 shall apply in respect of a local
society affected by the order made under this section.Societies 13
Application for registration
6. (1) Every local society other than that in respect of which an
order made under section 5 is in force shall, in the manner prescribed
make application to the Registrar for registration under this Act.
(2) Until a local society is registered under this Act, no person
shall, without a written permission of the Registrar, organize or
take part in any activity of or on behalf of the society, except only
to apply to, or correspond with the Registrar.
(3) Any person committing a breach of subsection (2) shall be
guilty of an offence and shall on conviction be liable to a fine not
exceeding *five thousand ringgit, and where the breach is a continuing
one to a fine not exceeding **five hundred ringgit for every day
after the first day during which the breach continues.
Power of Registrar to make inquiries, etc. in relation to any
application under this Act
6A. (1) The Registrar may, in relation to any application under
section 6, subsection 11(1), subsection 12(1), section 49,
subsection 50(1), or any other provision of this Act or regulations
made thereunder, call for such further information, and make such
inquiries, as he may consider necessary.
(2) Where a person making any application as is referred to in
subsection (1) fails to supply the further information called for,
or answer the inquiries made, to the satisfaction of the Registrar,
he may refuse the application.
Registration and refusal to register
7. (1) Upon receipt of an application under section 6, the Registrar
shall, subject to the provisions of this section and to such conditions
as the Registrar may deem fit to impose, register the local society
making the application.
(2) The Registrar may refuse to register a local society if—
(a) he is satisfied that such a society is a branch of any
society whose registration has been cancelled under
paragraph 13(1)(c); or
*NOTE —Previously “two thousand ringgit”–see the Societies (Amendment) Act 1998 [Act A1027].
**NOTE —Previously “two hundred ringgit”–see the Societies (Amendment) Act 1998 [Act A1027].14 Laws of Malaysia ACT 335
(b) he is not satisfied that such local society has complied
with the provisions of this Act and of the regulations
made thereunder; or
(c) a dispute exists among the members of such local society
as to the persons who are to be office-bearers or to hold
or to administer any property of the society until the
dispute is decided by a Court or by arbitration or by
agreement between the members or otherwise.
(3) The Registrar shall refuse to register a local society where—
(a) it appears to him that such local society is unlawful under
the provisions of this Act or any other written law or is
likely to be used for unlawful purposes or any purpose
prejudicial to or incompatible with peace, welfare, security,
public order, good order or morality in Malaysia;
(b) the society has been declared by the Minister to be unlawful
under section 5;
(c) the Registrar is satisfied that the society does not exist;
(d) the name under which the society is to be registered—
(i) appears to the Registrar to mislead or be calculated
to mislead members of the public as to the true
character or purpose of the society or so nearly
resembles the name of such other society as is
likely to deceive the members of the public or
members of either society;
(ii) is identical to that of any other existing local society;
or
(iii) is, in the opinion of the Registrar, undesirable;
(e) the constitution or rules of the society do not contain
provisions for all matters set out in Schedule I to this Act
or if the society is a mutual benefit society, matters set
out in Schedule II or any other matters which the Registrar
may reasonably require.
(4) Where the Registrar has refused to register a local society
under this section, the provisions of section 17 shall apply to that
local society.Societies 15
(5) Any society that contravenes any condition imposed on it
by the Registrar under subsection (1) shall be guilty of an offence
and shall be liable, on conviction, to a fine not exceeding two
thousand ringgit.
Please see Section 41 to 48 HERE
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)