PPS not registered with RoS, Dewan Rakyat told

The Voluntary Patrol Team (PPS) set up in Penang is not registered with the Registrar of Societies (RoS) and is not included in any act passed by the Dewan Rakyat.

Home Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said although the Penang Government had approved its establishment, it was never brought to the Penang State Assembly sitting for approval under an enactment.

He said the Voluntary Patrol Scheme (SRS) was formed under the Rukun Tetangga Act 2012 while the People's Volunteer Corps (Rela) was set up under the Malaysia Volunteers Corps Act 2012, which were both passed by the Dewan Rakyat.

"The SRS and Rela do not need to be registered with the RoS as they were set up under acts of Parliament," he said in the Dewan Rakyat today in reply to a supplementary question from Ng Wei Aik (DAP-Tanjong) who asked why the PPS must be registered with RoS.

Ahmad Zahid said the matter was subject to the law and under the jurisdiction of the federal government because it was related to security and defence aspects.

"The PPS wants to act like a security force but there are 11 police reports made against it for beating, slapping and spraying tear gas on the public," Ahmad Zahid said.

Replying to a supplementary question from Mohamad Imran Abdul Hamid (PKR-Lumut) who claimed that the security of the country was the responsibility of the menteris besar and chief ministers, Ahmad said security and defence was under the jurisdiction of the federal government.

"We know that security and defence comes under the federal government, so it would be outside the law if any state government wants to take over the power of the federal government," he stressed.