GEORGE TOWN: The Penang government has dismissed the Home Minister’s claim that its Voluntary Patrol Unit (PPS) was trying to take over the role of the police. Criticising Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi for making the statement, Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng demanded that the minister provide proof to support the claim.

Guan Eng insisted that the PPS was set up four years ago in response to the police’s call to the public to help combat crime. The unit, he said, had helped the state police in numerous community policing programmes. He said the police had also explained the role of PPS in the past.

“We have the proof to show that the police made the statements to that effect. At no time have we ever said we wanted to replace the police. We merely wanted to assist them.

“If it was not for the police asking the public to help, the people would not have taken part in the community policing programmes,” he said. Guan Eng said he was upset with Ahmad Zahid’s reply to Tanjung MP Ng Wei Aik, who had asked whether the People’s Volunteer Corps, Neighbourhood Watch and community policing teams were registered with Registrar of Societies in Parliament last week. — The Malaysian Insider

This article first appeared in The Edge Financial Daily, on October 21, 2014.