Penang govt advised to disband People’s Voluntary Force

GEORGE TOWN: InspectorGeneral of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar has advised the DAPled Penang government to disband the People’s Voluntary Force ( BPS) saying the Royal Malaysia Police ( PDRM) was still capable of maintaining public safety.

Khalid said, similar to the fate of the state’s previously outlawed Voluntary Patrol Unit ( PPS), BPS may also follow suit as its formation contravened with the law.

“We all know that PPS had been verified as an illegal organisation, thus, we advise the state government to dissolve the BPS before it is also banned,” he told reporters after a PDRM- Universiti Sains Malaysia ( USM memorandum of agreement signing ceremony here yesterday.

Instead, he urged BPS members to join ‘community policing’ or any organisation registered with the Registrar of Societies ( ROS) and under the patronage of PDRM.

He also deemed the BPS’ advisor as not qualified to provide advice on security aspects and urged the person to seek the assistance of the state police chief, who was better informed on legal and security matters.

“When organisations are formed on whims and fancies and and its members backgrounds are not checked, then there will be instances such as bashing up people and blackmailing, which we hope to avoid,” said Khalid.

He also informed that the crime index in Penang so far this year had dropped by six per cent as compared to the same period last year and assured the public not to be worried and leave the duty of upholding the people’s safety to the police.

On Nov 13, Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng initiated the formation of BPS on the island and on Nov 12 it was launched in Seberang Perai.

It is learned that BPS is a volunteer body under the Village Development and Security Committee (JKKK) treasurer who is responsible for managing the security of the local community to ensure the safety and unity of the neighbourhood. — Bernama