Yesterday’s police shocking arrest of 155 Penang Voluntary Patrol Unit (PPS) members was unnecessary, highhanded and deserves condemnation.
Penang chief minister Lim Guan Eng, in response to the Inspector General of Police’s (IGP) earlier claim that PSS was an illegal body, had already clarified that PPS was set up by the state government and is a legal body.
If the IGP insists that PPS is illegal, he could always seek more explanations from the Penang state government.
But he chose to arrest the PPS members who were only attending a Merdeka event. Why?
It is public knowledge that PPS‘s role is to help the public during emergencies and disasters. Should the police arrest PPS members merely because the RoS has said that it is not registered under the Societies Act?
PPS was formed 4 years ago, how could it suddenly become so dangerous to warrant such highhanded police action?
The IGP said that the PPS insisted on carrying their activities and deliberately wanted to challenge the country’s law and dared police to take action…they acted like gangsters.
But such explanation is not satisfactory and acceptable.
Until it has been cleared that PPS is an illegal body and what they do are against the laws, there was no necessity and justification for Police to take such action especially when PPS’s activity yesterday was only attending a state level Merdeka event.
The arrest of Penang Exco Phee Boon Poh too was also most unnecessary and avoidable.
The IGP must know this fact – that PPS is not a gangster group or secret society. It is a body set up by the Penang state government.
Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng has also rebutted IGP’s allegation that PPS has strayed from its original objective of serving the community
The police must cease any threats against or arrest of PPS members. Let the courts decide if PPS is legal or otherwise.