Patrol unit members arrested for challenging law, says IGP
In
spector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar (pic) today said the operation to arrest members of Penang's Voluntary Patrol Unit (PPS) today was due to their stubbornness and temerity to challenge the 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.
Khalid said the arrests today marked the start of the action to be taken against the organisation, referring to his tweet this morning which called on those responsible for the PPS to turn themselves in before the police raided their residences.
He said they should surrender to help the police with their investigations.
"If they do not come, we will look for them," Khalid said.
He maintained that the PPS had been made illegal ("diharamkan") by the Registrar of Societies (RoS).
Since the PPS had already been pronounced as an illegal organisation, it should use appropriate legal channels like writing a letter to the RoS for clarification while suspending its activities, he said.
"Instead, this organisation purposely wants to defy the laws of our country by challenging and threatening the police that if any action is taken, they would still continue operating," he said.
"This is certainly the act of a gangster," he added.
"Because they are still stubborn, the police is compelled to enforce the laws that exist.”
He added that the police would refer its investigations to the Attorney-General's Chambers for further action.
Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng had in Penang today responded to Khalid's tweet by stressing that the state government was responsible for formation of the PPS.
"And who is the state government? Of course it is all the state executive councillors, including the chief minister," Lim had said.
He had also said that the PPS, which provides public aid during emergencies and disasters, and helps in community policing, is a state body instituted under the Penang government and therefore considered legal and legitimate. – August 31, 2014.
