Guan Eng denies agreeing with Zahid to revamp PPS

The Penang government today said it did not reach an agreement with the Home Ministry to turn its voluntary patrol unit into a community policing unity. – The Malaysian Insider file pic, November 13, 2014.

Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng has denied agreeing with Home Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi to revamp the state's voluntary patrol unit (PPS).

Lim said he was surprised at hearing about Zahid's statement in Kuala Lumpur today that he had agreed to change the PPS into a community policing unit.

"I did not agree. I asked him to present a working paper on it so we can consider and deliberate," he said, stressing that any decision has to be made by the state executive council.

Zahid this afternoon said the state government agreed to revamp PPS into a community policing unit.

He said Lim agreed to transform the PPS into a certified community policing unit which would be endorsed by the police.

He said the agreement was reached yesterday at a discussion in Parliament.

"I am heartened by Lim’s willingness to find an amicable solution to the PPS issue. I hope it can be implemented as soon as possible," he said at a press conference at the police headquarters today.

Lim added that Zahid told him that it was the Attorney-General who had made the decision to have the PPS declared illegal.

On November 4, the Home Ministry announced that Zahid declared the PPS illegal under section 5(1) of the Societies Act 1966, which empowered the home minister to declare an organisation illegal.

"I told him we will challenge it in court and we will defend the PPS," he said to reporters at the Penang State Assembly.

Asked why Zahid could have made the announcement, Lim said: "Maybe because they have branded the PPS illegal illegally."  

Lim (pic, left) said Zahid brought up the idea while they were chit-chatting before Parliament commenced yesterday.

"He suggested that the PPS be absorbed into the community policing body. I disagreed," Lim said.

"I told him we will stand by the decision of the executive council to take the matter to court," he said, adding that the facts were in the state's favour.

He also said the state is still willing to hold further discussions with Zahid on the PPS.

The state criticised the declaration as "putting the cart before the horse", saying it was made more than two months after the 158 PPS members were arrested on August 31.

The state maintained that the declaration should not be used retrospectively on the members, and that the PPS was legal and legitimate as it was formed as an entity under the state government.

The executive council also announced it will initiate legal proceedings against Zahid for acting in bad faith in declaring the PPS an unlawful organisation.

It appointed lawyers Tommy Thomas, Datuk Malek Imtiaz Sarwar, Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan and Gobind Singh Deo.

- TMI