Penang police have denied that the force’s delay in arresting those involved in several violent incidents in the state recently has embolden criminals into committing more crimes.

State deputy CID chief Nasir Salleh ( left ) said there is no such thing as delay in making arrests if the public feed enough information to  the police.

“If we do not have enough information, how to arrest? They (public) feed us with the information, sometimes one week later, so that is why there seems to be a delay.

"You must play your part to say police are investigating the cases,” he told reporters at the Bukit Tengah police station today.

“It is not that we purposely delay the arrests. Definitely, we like to arrest. It’s a merit to the police if we make arrests. The public would be happy, the state and federal government, too, would be happy because we are at work.

“If we do nothing, everyone says police are not working. There is no reason that police do not want to make arrests

"It depends on the information we have,” he added.

Accompanying him to visit the station, which was hit by fireworks early this morning, were Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, state executive council members Phee Boon Poh and Lim Hock Seng, MPs Ng Wei Aik (Komtar) and Kasthurirani Patto (Batu Kawan) and Bukit Tengah assemblyperson Ong Chin Wen.

Former Gerakan Bukit Tengah assemblyperson Ng Siew Lai visited the station after Lim left the scene.

Nasir was asked about the delay in nabbing those involved in several violent incidents like molotov cocktails being thrown into the compound of the Assumption Church along Farquhar Street on Jan 27 at about 1.30am.

A week before, protesters in Alma rallying against the kangkung theme flash mob organised by Machang Bubuk assemblyman Lee Khai Loon had allegedly beaten up two unknown men who were said to have uttered racist words.

Nasir was also asked if criminals were disregarding the law which resulted in the violent incidents.

Nasir said he was not a fortune teller and do not know if such incidences would happen.

“Criminals usually do not tell the police what they intend to do or else we will take action,” he told reporters.

“As police, we also do not know who is our enemy. Anyone can be our enemy. There are people who are not satisfied with us, maybe when we issue summonses, they also get angry with us.”

Guan Eng ‘shocked’ over incident

Meanwhile, Lim who is the state security council chief, strongly condemned the early morning attack on the Bukit Tengah police station, saying “he was shocked” over the incident, which happened this morning.

Lim said criminals are now using low explosive devices to attack police stations.

“I have spoken to state police chief Abdul Rahim Hanafi and they have their sources and leads to find the culprits of this traitorous act,” he said.

“We trust the police will probe the matter and keep the peace in the state so that there will be no worries which will impact on our daily lives,” he added.

However, Lim, who visited the station at 3pm today, dismissed it as an “isolated case” and not related to the incidents at the church.

Lim said he has learnt that the act is criminal in nature and that the police have a criminal lead.

“The state will work together with the police to ensure that we maintain peace and security at all times, we give them our full support,” said Lim.

Asked if the state was willing to install closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras around the station, Lim said, “Yes, if the police agree.”

At about 4.50am, balls of firecrackers were thrown into the compound, damaging the front portion of the station.

Nasir had then said police were still ascertaining the suspects’ identity as there were no CCTV cameras around the station.

He added that the undetermined number of balls of firecrackers had caused damage to the glass frames and part of the ceiling in the front portion of the station.

‘Ball fireworks’ hurled at Bkt Tengah police station