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Cops find criminal records in 11 arrested PPS members
BY MELISSA CHI
September 01, 2014
Latest Update: September 01, 2014 09:45 pm
Cops find criminal records in 11 arrested PPS members | Malaysia | Mobile | The Malay Mail Online// // // // //
Cops find criminal records in 11 arrested PPS members | Malaysia | Mobile | The Malay Mail Online// // // // //
KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 1 — Eleven out of 156 Penang volunteer patrol unit (PPS) members arrested have criminal records, including a gangster who was once held under the Emergency Ordinance, police said today.
Penang police chief Datuk Abdul Rahim Hanafi said the 11, investigated under Section 41 of the Societies Act, were found to have been previously involved in intimidation, robbery, theft, culpable homicide not amounting to murder and drugs or offences under the Customs Act.
“According to our records, 11 of the 156 have records, including criminal offences related to the Customs Act and various drugs-related offences.
“One of them has been arrested under the Emergency Ordinance Act and four were tested positive for drugs,” he told reporters in George Town, Penang.
Abdul Rahim also said it was not the police’s duty to distinguish the type of drugs consumed by those they had arrested, in response to state Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng’s claims that the four who reportedly tested positive for drugs were senior citizens on prescription medication and not illegal narcotics.
“The urine sample we took tested positive for drugs and will be sent to Chemistry Department, depending on the chemistry report to determine whether the drug traces were legal or are narcotics,” the policeman said.
He also said the police have records of 30 per cent of the PPS members.
Malay Mail Online was able to obtain an audio recording of the news conference.
Yesterday, the police nabbed a total of 155 people said to be members of PPS including state executive councillor Phee Boon Poh, after the country’s top-ranking policeman declared the organisation illegal as it was not registered with the Registrar of Societies (ROS).
The police arrested Seri Delima assemblyman RSN Rayer today, for his alleged link to the group.
Abdul Rahim said there were 131 Chinese men, seven Chinese women, seven Indian men and 10 Malay men detained.
He added that the detained PPS members were aged between 18 and 67 and they were from various backgrounds, from students, to those employed in the private sector as well as the government.
The police also confiscated placards, flags, PPS’ uniform, walkie talkies and PPS membership cards.
He also confirmed that seven women and 14 men over the age of 60 were released early this morning.
“Once the investigation is completed, we will forward it to the chief prosecution unit for further action,” he said.
Inspector General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar announced last week that the PPS was being investigated under Section 41 of the Societies Act as it was not registered under the Registrar of Societies (RoS).
The police claimed only the federal government has the jurisdiction to establish such an organisation.
The announcement came after a 51-year-old man lodged a police report claiming that he was beaten up by PPS members.
The claim prompted Barisan Nasional leaders to demand for the unit to be disbanded, while Malay rights group Perkasa lodged police reports urging for a proof into the unit’s activities.
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 training courses that include first aid and disaster management.
Malaysia LAH 