The Penang police have set up a special task force to curb the rising trend in murder cases lately, state police chief Datuk Abdul Rahim Hanafi announced today.

The task force is headed by state CID chief SAC Mazlan Kesah and assisted by a team from Bukit Aman, he added.

"The suspects have been identified, so we warn them not to challenge us. As the state's police chief I will take stern and speedy action. We're turning on the pressure and I will personally ensure there are no more cases of causing hurt and murder with fire arms," he told a press conference here.

He said from January to May this year, 12 murder cases were recorded and nine cases involving fire arms, of which four victims were shot dead while five others were injured.

He added that police had also requested the state government to install more closed circuit televisions (CCTV) in the crime hot spots, particularly on the mainland.

"The areas which need more CCTVs are North, South and Central Seberang Perai," he said.

On a separate development, Abdul Rahim said police had recorded the statement of an individual responsible for organising the Pakatan Rakyat political rally in Padang Kota Lama last Saturday to facilitate investigations under the Peaceful Assembly Act 2012.

The police had previously stressed that they had not given a permit for the rally as the venue was a public place and there were concerns of disruption of peace and traffic congestion.

However, DAP national chairman Karpal Singh reportedly said that the organisers did not need a permit as the rally was organised by the state government to introduce its new executive council line up.