PPS revival: Penang government leaves it to members to decide

Penang DAP-led state government will leave it to the Volunteer Patrol Team (PPS) members on whether to revive it now, following the decision by the Court of Appeal yesterday that declared PPS was lawfully set up.

Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said there was still a final hurdle which allowed the federal government to appeal the Court of Appeal's ruling within 30 days.

He hoped the decision, which also meant that PPS could revive and continue its activities, would be respected by all parties.

"We are leaving it to the PPS members because we do not know whether the federal government will be applying for the stay, but until then PPS members can continue with their activities," he told reporters here today.

It was reported yesterday that the Court of Appeal also gave a order sought by the state government to declare that PPS was not a society under the Societies Act 1965.

PPS was formed in 2011 by the Penang state executive council, with the objective to assist the state government to combat crimes and to provide welfare, public safety and convenience to Penang residents.

On Nov 22, last year, the High Court in Penang dismissed the state government's judicial review, ruling that the PPS was unlawful because it was not registered under the Societies Act.

The Penang government had on Jan 27, 2015, filed a judicial review to challenge the Home Ministry's order in declaring the PPS as an illegal organisation.

-- BERNAMA