Voluntary patrol unit a Penang agency, not a society, says exco

Penang's voluntary patrol unit (PPS) is a state government agency, says exco Phee Boon Poh, thus it does not have to be registered with the Registrar of Societies (RoS).

Phee said the unit, at the centre of a brewing controversy, was not a society and also not a registered organisation.

"PPS is made up of volunteers who do not carry out any enforcement activities," the state welfare, caring society and environment committee chairman said.

Phee, who is also PPS chairman, was asked to comment on the police's plan to investigate the unit.

Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar today said police would investigate PPS activities and take action against them.

In a statement today, he said the RoS had informed police that PPS was not a registered organisation.

"The organisation is deemed illegal under Section 41 of the Societies Act 1966. Therefore, police will investigate its activities and take action in accordance with the act," he said in a statement.

Phee said the state government would give its full cooperation to police.

"We have explained before what the PPS is about and what its members do.

"We have even given the police the unit's name list. We will cooperate.

"In the meantime, our state legal department has also been instructed to study this matter," he told The Malaysian Insider today.

Phee said the PPS unit had been doing an effective job in emergency response when there were accidents or disasters.

Its members arrive at the scene of the incidents to provide aid and help direct traffic to prevent traffic jams.

"They have been effective in their role. They have also contributed to the reduced crime rate in Penang. Taking the PPS apart may not benefit the people," he said.

The unit attracted controversy more than a week ago when a 51-year-old businessman lodged a police report alleging that he was beaten up by PPS members, who were in their purple uniforms, while he was attending a Chinese temple dinner.

The man, Ong Eu Soon, who is also a social activist, claimed that the group roughed him up and one of them used a motorcycle helmet to hit him "for no apparent reason". He reportedly sustained bruises on the hand and face.

Phee had said he viewed the allegations seriously and the state government would not tolerate any indiscipline among PPS members.

The story took a new twist when the two PPS members, who allegedly assaulted the activist, claimed he had hit them first. The duo also said they were not on duty during the incident.

However, the damage was done and the Pakatan Rakyat government has been under fire over the case since.

Parti Cinta Malaysia vice-president Datuk Huan Cheng Guan had condemned the act and questioned how members of the unregistered unit were allowed to wear uniforms and conduct security-related activities.

He also alleged that PPS unit was the DAP's militant outfit, used to also carry out the party's work.

Earlier today, Penang Perkasa Youth also lodged a report over the alleged assault, its chief, Mohd Rizuad Mohd Azudin, said in a WhatsApp message to the media.

In the message, Rizuad asked the Home Ministry to investigate whether it was true that PPS members had outnumbered the police force in Penang.

Five police reports were also lodged by members of a group called Rakan Anak-anak Pulau Pinang over the alleged assault and the legitimacy of the PPS unit. – August 26, 2014.