The Penang government will appeal to Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Home Minister Muhyiddin Yassin to consider reinstating the Voluntary Patrol Team (PPS).

State Welfare, Caring Society and Environment Committee chairperson Phee Boon Poh said the committee would send an official letter and a report on the team to the federal government to expedite the consideration and approval for the reinstatement of the PPS.

“I believe many people in the state want the PPS to be reinstated. They say now that the Penang is part of the ruling (federal) government, it should be easier (for the PPS to be reinstated).

“Yes, we are now part of the government, but we will not abuse the power. So, we will make an official appeal to the prime minister and home minister for the matter to be considered and approved soon,” he told a press conference in George Town today.

He said the PPS case had remained pending without any decision at the Federal Court.

Meanwhile, Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng who was also present at the press conference said he would take the matter to the attention of the prime minister and the cabinet.

He said even though the appeals court had decided that the PPS was lawfully established by the Penang government, he would still want to seek the support from the Home Ministry to reinstate the voluntary patrol team.

“We are just waiting for the final decision from the Federal Court. So, while we wait, I have asked them (state government) to prepare a report on the need to reinstate the PPS to be shown to the home minister and the prime minister for consideration and approval,” he said.

On March 28, last year, the appellate court three-man panel led by Justice Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat declared PPS as lawfully established after allowing the Penang government's appeal to reverse the Penang High Court's verdict on Nov 22, 2016, which held that PPS was illegal.

The Penang government had on Jan 27, 2015, filed a judicial review to challenge the Home Ministry's order in declaring PPS an illegal society.

The PPS was initially established by the Penang state executive council in 2009 with the objective to voluntarily help the state government in combating crime while ensuring public wellbeing and security.

- Bernama