Five DAP MPs and an assemblyperson are offering RM10,000 to anyone who can identity the culprit who threw a molotov cocktail into the residence of Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng 15 minutes before Merdeka Day on Sunday.

The MPs, led by Jelutong MP Jeff Ooi, chided Inspector-General of Police Khalid Abu Bakar for not being able to arrest any suspect involved in the incident along Jalan Pinhorn.

No one was hurt in he attack, which reportedly took place when Lim was attending a pre-Merdeka event in George Town.

“It’s been 48 hours and the IGP has failed in his duties to capture and punish the culprits who threatened and hurt the public, what more the chief minister appointed by the people,” Ooi said.

“We offer RM10,000 to anyone who can identify the culprits to assist police to carry out the necessary arrest and punishment immediately,” Ooi said at a press conference in Penang today.

Accompanying Ooi were MPs Ng Wei Aik (Tanjung), P Kasthurirani (Batu Kawan), Zairil Khir Johari (Bukit Bendera), Steven Sim (Bukit Mertajam) and Air Itam assemblyperson Wong Hon Wai.

The MPs also strongly lashed out at Khalid for “abuse of power” in cracking down on the state’s Voluntary Patrol Unit (PPS) on Merdeka Day.

A total of 157 people, including state executive councillor and PPS chairperson Phee Boon Poh and Seri Delima assemblyperson RSN Rayer, were arrested for their involvement in the activities.

All of them have sincebeen released on police bail.

They are currently being investigated under Section 43 of the Societies Act 1966.

The MPs described the day of the crackdown as ‘Ops Merdeka Hitam’.

Ooi defended the PPS, saying it is a legal body under the current state government, which was approved at the state exco meeting on April 8, 2009.

“At the time, the state legal adviser, a law expert appointed by the Attorney-General’s Chambers, did not raise any questions when the decision (to approve the PPS) was made,” he noted.

Ooi condemned the arrest of Phee and Rayer, saying the crackdown has “tarnished and destroyed the sanctity and sovereignty of the country’s independence day”.

He slammed khalid for accusing the PPS of being an “illegal body” and that its members were “gangsters”.

He urged Khalid to respond within seven days to the challenge by Lim to debate in public the legality of PPS.

Lim has vowed not to bow down to Khalid’s threats to raid the homes of those involved in PPS if they did not surrender to the police over their alleged illegal activities.

‘Prepared to invite Ambiga to chair debate’

“We parliamentarians are prepared to invite experts in law, including Malaysian Bar Council former president S Ambiga, to chair the debate,” Ooi said.

Ooi said the MPs supported the state government’s decision to “rest” PPS activities, to provide legal assistance and a sum of RM200 for those who were arrested.

They also welcomed the state’s decision to provide legal and financial assistance to the detainees, and will support “any action against the IGP” by those who were detained due to the crackdown.

“We urge Attorney-General Abdul Gani Patail to re-open the file involving Khalid, where the High Court and Court of Appeal decisions stated that he failed to comply with procedures and was responsible for the custodial death of A Kugan in 2009,” Ooi said.

“We want this matter to be debated in Parliament and want to know why Khalid continues to be free without any action taken against him,” Ooi added.