Cops: Three PPS members test positive for drugs

GEORGE TOWN: Three members of the Penang Voluntary Patrol (PPS) unit have been tested positive for drugs, according to the police on Monday.

George Town OCPD Asst Comm Mior Faridalathrash Wahid said the men, aged between 26 and 64, would be  investigated under the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 and the Societies Act 1966. 

Penang police chief Senior Deputy Comm Datuk Wira Abd Rahim Hanafi is expected to reveal more details during a press conference to be held later. 

The controversy surrounding the PPS unit came to a head on Sunday following the arrest of 156 members, including their chairman, state executive councillor Phee Boon Poh, after a Merdeka procession at the Esplanade. 

The PPS members, including seven women, who took part in the state-level procession earlier, were escorted on foot to the Beach Street police station around 10.10am. 

They were walking near the state legislative assembly in Light Street when about 50 policemen surrounded them.

From Beach Street, they were carted in vans and school buses to the George Town police district headquarters for further action.

They were arrested under Section 41 of the Societies Act. 

It is learnt that PPS had taken part in the Merdeka procession since it was set up in 2011. 

Twenty members, including seven female members and those aged above 60, were later released on police bail.

According to a Bernama report, several of the detained PPS members had criminal records and were also on the police wanted list. 

Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim said the police had acted against the PPS because it was not registered with the Registrar of Societies (RoS) and was therefore deemed unlawful.