The Penang government will consult with its legal team on seeking a judicial review of the home minister's declaration that the state’s Voluntary Patrol Unit (PPS) is illegal.

 

Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said at a press conference today he is awaiting communication from the Home Ministry on this, adding he never expected the federal government to act so unprofessionally.

 

"Does the federal government now operate through press statements?" he asked, adding this was how he got to know about its decision.

 

Lim said Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi had acted in a mala fide manner twice by sanctioning the arrests of the PPS members, and then declaring the group an unlawful society yesterday.

 

“Ahmad Zahid ( left ) also has no respect for natural justice and had acted on the PPS with no communication whatsoever between the home minister and Penang government, so as to enable us to defend themselves.

 

"The unilateral declaration by the minister is a flagrant disregard of the tenets of natural justice, namely that a person cannot be condemned unheard. The baseless charges against PPS is a gross abuse of power by the minister."  

 

'No case'

Lim said with the unilateral declaration of the minister, the validity of the decision can be challenged as it cannot be retrospective in nature.

 

He said it was clear that there is no case against the 157 members who were arrested on Aug 31 and no further extension on their bail should be made.

 

He added that the increasing "harsh" attacks by BN were due to the increasing popularity of the PPS.

 

"There are 9,002 members comprising 33 percent Malays, 57 percent Chinese and 10 percent Indians with the number of Malays expected to increase to 45 percent by end 2015," Lim ( left ) said.

 

"The Home Ministry must be reminded that the Penang government formed the PPS to assist the police in community policing and emergency rescue services.

 

"The Penang police had no problems working with PPS over the last four years. Why now?"

 

Lim was referring to Home Ministry secretary general Mohd Khalid Sharif's statement yesterday which reiterated Ahmad Zahid’s declaration that the unit was illegal.

 

The declaration was made under Section 5 of the 1966 Societies Act which gives the minister powers to declare an organisation as illegal.

 

Mohd Khalid had also stated that all activities using the PPS name and symbols were banned, warning those who continued to do so would be probed and charged.

Lim also condemned Mohd Khalid's remark based on Section 5 (1) of the Societies Act that the PPS is unlawful as it had been allegedly used for purposes prejudicial to or incompatible with the interest of the security of Malaysia or any part thereof public order.

"This is a malicious allegation bereft of any truth whatsoever and which is vehemently denied by the Penang government," he added.

 

A total of 157 members of the PPS, including its head state executive councillor Phee Boon Poh, deputy and Tanjong MP Ng Wei Aik, and Seri Delima assemblyperson RSN Rayer, were arrested on Aug 31 after taking part in the state Merdeka Parade.

 

The police have extended the bail of the group to Dec 1 .