Home Ministry fully supports police action on PPS members - Zahid

He said this was because the team ignored warnings not to carry out any activities because it had been declared an illegal society by the Registrar of Societies (ROS).

"Although the police welcome assistance from all individuals and organisations in preserving the peace, challenging the police is not wise.

"Certainly what has happened (arrest of the PPS members) is a result of challenging existing laws," he told a press conference after opening Segambut Umno's delegates meeting here today.

He was commenting in the police's action of arresting 156 PPS members and its chairman, State Executive Councillor for Welfare, Caring Society and Environment Phee Boon Poh, after the Merdeka Day parade in George Town yesterday.

Ahmad Zahid said his ministry and several other ministries had voluntary bodies to assist the police maintain law and order.

He said under his ministry, there were the People's Volunteer Corps (Rela) and the Civil Defence Department for this.

"We have Rela, the Community Policing programme, Rakan Cop and Rukun Tetangga (Neighbourhood Watch units)...not need for other organisations," he said, adding that security was a federal and not state matter.

Ahmad Zahid said based on complaints received by the police, there were cases of PPS members acting beyond limits like beating up people, issuing threats and using foul language on members of the public.

"They are operating outside the law and thinking they have the powers of the police...this is not the function of volunteers. I hope the people understand the police's action, it is because there are negative reports about the PPS," he said.

He said the same action would be taken against any such societies or organisations that are not registered by ROS.

Last Thursday, Deputy Home Minister Datuk Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar explained that the federal government did not allow any state to set up its own security force because security came under the jurisdiction of the federal government.

Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar had also issued a statement saying the PPS was an unlawful society because it was not registered with ROS.

The PPS issue came to the fore after a social activist claimed to have been assaulted by members of the team for having allegedly criticised the state government on Facebook.

Last Wednesday, the Penang Police headquarters said it had received 16 reports against the PPS and that it would initiate an investigation.