Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng has denied media reports that a few of the arrested members of the Voluntary Patrol Unit (PPS) have been tested positive for drugs after failing their urine tests.
He said several of the senior citizens, who were part of the PPS contingent taken into custody yesterday by police, had consumed medication, and this had contributed to the test results.
He said the seniors were among 20 people, comprising women and those above the age of 60, released on police bail early this morning.
“When the police saw the medication that they had taken, police knew that they were elderly and needed the medicines, and they were released,” Lim said at a press conference after meeting with state executive councillors and Pakatan Rakyat lawmakers in Komtar today.
“I wish to refute attempts by irresponsible parties in the media trying to raise doubts about the PPS members,” he said.
Penang chief police officer Datuk Abdul Rahim Hanafi is expected to hold a press conference at the George Town District police headquarters, where the remaining 136 members are held, this afternoon.
“That was why the police did not keep them detained, but released them,” Lim said.
He added that if needed, the state government would facilitate tests at private laboratories for the detainees.
The PPS members were arrested after they had participated in a march-past during the official state-level Merdeka Day celebrations at Padang Kota Lama in George Town yesterday morning.
They are being investigated under section 41 and 43 of the Societies Act 1966 for being involved in an unlawful society not registered by the Registrar of Societies (RoS).
Lim has maintained that the PPS, which is intended to provide public aid during emergencies and disasters and help in community policing, is a body instituted under the state government, and is, therefore, legal and legitimate. – September 1, 2014.
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