Board chief: Arrest of PPS members should be lesson for illegal organisations

The arrest of 156 members of the outlawed Penang Voluntary Patrol Squad ( Pasukan Peronda Sukarela or PPS) last month should serve as a lesson for any illegal organisation in the country.

Malaysian Crime Prevention Awareness Board president, Datuk Seri Dr Saharuddin Awang Yahya said any organisation should realise the need to register with the Registrar of Societies ( ROS) to ensure its legality before carrying out activities.

He also stressed that the function of any voluntary organisation was more for caring for people’s welfare and it should not be taking over the security duties of the police.

“Maintaining peace is the work of the police, but members of voluntrary organisations can assist but not at acting at par or above them or challenging the police.

“The volunteers should also not have any previous criminal record because if they do, they will add problems to society,” he told Bernama at his office, here, yesterday.

Saharuddin was asked to comment on the arrest of the 156 PPS members after they ignored police warnings not to carry out any related activities after PPS was found to have not registered with ROS, hence was illegal.

Those arrested on Aug 31 included PPS chairman Phee Boon Poh, who is also state Welfare, Caring Society and Environment Committee chairman. — Bernama