Bad judgment by cops in arresting anti-crime volunteers, say shocked groups
Civil
society and lawyers expressed shock over the high-handedness of the police in arresting Penang's Voluntary Patrol Unit (PPS) members shortly after their participation in a state-level Merdeka celebration today.
They said the untimely act at a patriotic event was a bad judgement that put the Federal law enforcement agency in a negative light.
They said the incident occurred due to strained Federal government-state relationship and citizens became the victims.
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 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.
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.
He also took a swipe at Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abdu Bakar for his lack of professionalism in applying the law fairly.
"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.
Khalid, in that case, was specially pointed out for abusing his authority while in office.
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.
The PPS members were stopped by the police immediately after they had participated in the official march-past, as part of the annual parade for the celebrations at the Padang Kota Lama in George Town at about 10.15am.
They were taken to the nearby Lebuh Pantai police station for questioning. Police had the station cordoned off and guarded by the Federal Reserve Unit.
In his tweet today, Khalid urged PPS leaders to surrender or risk having their homes raided by police.
Zahid and Khalid yesterday said that the Registrar of Societies (RoS) had stated that the PPS was not a legal organisation as it had not been registered.
Lim insisted that the unit had only helped the public during emergencies and disasters.
He maintained that PPS was legal and legitimate as it was a state body instituted under the Penang government.
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.
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.
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.
"You cannot declare a society illegal just because it has not been registered," he said.
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.
"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.
He said PPS members were victimised because of a clash between Penang and Putrajaya.
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.
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. – August 31, 2014.
