After crackdown, PPS eager to return to streets
Susan LoonePublished: Sep 19, 2014 6:19 PM | Updated: Sep 19, 2014 9:47 PM
Penang's outlawed Voluntary Patrol Unit (PPS) members long for the day when they can be back on the streets to serve the community.
Penang's outlawed Voluntary Patrol Unit (PPS) members long for the day when they can be back on the streets to serve the community.
PPS coordinator A Manickam (right) expressed sadness that the unit was forced to 'stand down’ from its duties since the mass arrest of its members during Merdeka Day.
"I can only pray and wait to be called back to work," he told Malaysiakini.
"There is only emptiness now. We were kept very busy with our duties when PPS was active. We loved our job very much," he added, the disappointment clearly showing on his weather-beaten face.
Manickam was among the 156, including PPS chairman Phee Boon Poh (second from right), who were nabbed after participating in the Merdeka Day Parade in the presence of the Penang Governor.
The group which includes Tanjong MP Ng Wei Aik and Seri Delima assemblyman RSN Rayer are being probed under the 1948 Societies Act for their involvement with the unit declared 'illegal' by Inspector General of Police Khalid Abu Bakar.
They are currently out on bail until the end of the month, pending a decision by the Attorney General whether to charge them in court or drop the case.
Working for the community
Manickam's hopes were dashed as he left his 14-year career in a safety and security firm to work for the state government in 2011 when PPS was officially launched as a community service-oriented organisation.
But he has no regrets as he felt as a PPS member, he had contributed to society in "a very meaningful way".
“Although I am already 67, I felt the urge to bring up (the) PPS (name). I was proud of what I have done”.
Manickam said the local folks took an interest in joining PPS after they witnessed how effective the team responded to disasters and the level of professionalism in crowd and traffic control (left) during community events such as weddings and funerals.
From a small group of volunteers, the numbers grew to just over 9,000 within three years.
Manickam was sore at claims that PPS was pro-DAP, especially during the recent Bukit Gelugor polls in May during which photos of members putting up party flags were circulated by critics in the social media.
"This is strictly prohibited. PPS members are told to stay neutral. However, like in a big family of children, there are some black sheep," he admitted.
"We take action by constantly reviewing our team (leaders) and take disciplinary action on those who violate our rules," he said.
Limits of citizen's arrest
Manickam was a detective in the 80s and have encountered many criminals, including gunmen.
Armed with this experience, he trains PPS members in every constituency with the help of the elected representatives and the police.
"We always cooperate with the police. During our rounds, we get them to sign and stamp on our log books," he said, showing examples of the books (left).
The training sessions solely focus on Section 27 of the Criminal Procedure Code which allows for citizen arrest.
Citizens are allowed to use reasonable force on criminals but cannot interrogate or carry out further investigations.
A citizen's duty is to hand over the criminals to the police immediately upon arrest.
"So my men know their limits. They know how much power they have or do not have".
Dealing with criminal elements
Manickam recalled that the PPS has helped resolve six criminal cases.
The members involved were issued letters of appreciation and given cash tokens by the state government to motivate them to excel in their duties.
But it was the police report lodged by social activist Ong Eu Soon, 51, claiming he was assaulted by two PPS members in Air Itam on Aug 17, which grabbed headlines in the media.
His case prompted Parti Cinta Malaysia vice president Huan Cheng Guan to seek out the status of PPS under the Registrar of Societies (ROS) which confirmed that it was not in the registry.
The illegal society claim was dismissed by Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng who argued that the unit, like the Village Development and Security Committees (JKKK), was a state body and did not require registration under ROS.
PPS was embroiled in another controversy when one of its member allegedly attacked a photographer covering a suicide scene. The member was eventually suspended from his duties.
During the mass arrest on Aug 31 (right), the police revealed that three PPS members reportedly tested positive for drugs while 11 others allegedly had criminal records.
In response, PPS Farlim branch member R Kalaichelvam, 49, said, "Yes, they are a few bad hats but why punish all of us?"
"The rest of us just did our jobs. We did not steal or scold the police," added the security supervisor.
'We have done nothing wrong'
He too awaits the return of the PPS to the fold of society, saying, "We don't want our youths who have been busy with PPS now to get involved in vice (activities) as they have nothing to do".
Two youths from Butterworth - Fitri Che Morat and Syafi Saffree - concur.
"Truly, we cannot accept what happened to the PPS. What we know is we have done nothing wrong," said Fitri, 36, a businessman.
"We want to give our services to society and there are many like-minded people. They have taken away our chance to do good," Syafi, who is 26, lamented.
PPS coordinator A Manickam (right) expressed sadness that the unit was forced to 'stand down’ from its duties since the mass arrest of its members during Merdeka Day."I can only pray and wait to be called back to work," he told Malaysiakini.
"There is only emptiness now. We were kept very busy with our duties when PPS was active. We loved our job very much," he added, the disappointment clearly showing on his weather-beaten face.
Manickam was among the 156, including PPS chairman Phee Boon Poh (second from right), who were nabbed after participating in the Merdeka Day Parade in the presence of the Penang Governor.
The group which includes Tanjong MP Ng Wei Aik and Seri Delima assemblyman RSN Rayer are being probed under the 1948 Societies Act for their involvement with the unit declared 'illegal' by Inspector General of Police Khalid Abu Bakar.
They are currently out on bail until the end of the month, pending a decision by the Attorney General whether to charge them in court or drop the case.
Working for the community
Manickam's hopes were dashed as he left his 14-year career in a safety and security firm to work for the state government in 2011 when PPS was officially launched as a community service-oriented organisation.
But he has no regrets as he felt as a PPS member, he had contributed to society in "a very meaningful way".
“Although I am already 67, I felt the urge to bring up (the) PPS (name). I was proud of what I have done”.
Manickam said the local folks took an interest in joining PPS after they witnessed how effective the team responded to disasters and the level of professionalism in crowd and traffic control (left) during community events such as weddings and funerals.From a small group of volunteers, the numbers grew to just over 9,000 within three years.
Manickam was sore at claims that PPS was pro-DAP, especially during the recent Bukit Gelugor polls in May during which photos of members putting up party flags were circulated by critics in the social media.
"This is strictly prohibited. PPS members are told to stay neutral. However, like in a big family of children, there are some black sheep," he admitted.
"We take action by constantly reviewing our team (leaders) and take disciplinary action on those who violate our rules," he said.
Limits of citizen's arrest
Manickam was a detective in the 80s and have encountered many criminals, including gunmen.
Armed with this experience, he trains PPS members in every constituency with the help of the elected representatives and the police.
"We always cooperate with the police. During our rounds, we get them to sign and stamp on our log books," he said, showing examples of the books (left).The training sessions solely focus on Section 27 of the Criminal Procedure Code which allows for citizen arrest.
Citizens are allowed to use reasonable force on criminals but cannot interrogate or carry out further investigations.
A citizen's duty is to hand over the criminals to the police immediately upon arrest.
"So my men know their limits. They know how much power they have or do not have".
Dealing with criminal elements
Manickam recalled that the PPS has helped resolve six criminal cases.
The members involved were issued letters of appreciation and given cash tokens by the state government to motivate them to excel in their duties.
But it was the police report lodged by social activist Ong Eu Soon, 51, claiming he was assaulted by two PPS members in Air Itam on Aug 17, which grabbed headlines in the media.
His case prompted Parti Cinta Malaysia vice president Huan Cheng Guan to seek out the status of PPS under the Registrar of Societies (ROS) which confirmed that it was not in the registry.
The illegal society claim was dismissed by Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng who argued that the unit, like the Village Development and Security Committees (JKKK), was a state body and did not require registration under ROS.
PPS was embroiled in another controversy when one of its member allegedly attacked a photographer covering a suicide scene. The member was eventually suspended from his duties.
During the mass arrest on Aug 31 (right), the police revealed that three PPS members reportedly tested positive for drugs while 11 others allegedly had criminal records.In response, PPS Farlim branch member R Kalaichelvam, 49, said, "Yes, they are a few bad hats but why punish all of us?"
"The rest of us just did our jobs. We did not steal or scold the police," added the security supervisor.
'We have done nothing wrong'
He too awaits the return of the PPS to the fold of society, saying, "We don't want our youths who have been busy with PPS now to get involved in vice (activities) as they have nothing to do".
Two youths from Butterworth - Fitri Che Morat and Syafi Saffree - concur.
"Truly, we cannot accept what happened to the PPS. What we know is we have done nothing wrong," said Fitri, 36, a businessman.
"We want to give our services to society and there are many like-minded people. They have taken away our chance to do good," Syafi, who is 26, lamented.
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