Guan Eng condemns arrest of Phee Boon Poh

GEORGE TOWN : Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng condemned the arrest of Penang exco member Phee Boon Poh in what he described as the beginning of a major crackdown against the state government.
Lim said although the police had promised him that they will release women members of the Penang Voluntary Patrol Squad (PPS) and those aged 60 and above, he questioned why Phee who is 62 has not been released yet.
" I strongly condemn this and urge Inspector General of Police (IGP) Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar to explain why," he said.
Lim was speaking to reporters outside the North East District Police Headquarters at Jalan Patani, where the remand proceedings of 154 PPS members who were arrested yesterday is expected to take place.
He also issued a challenge to the IGP to an open debate on PPS.
"If he thinks he is right in ordering the arrest of the 154 PPS members, then I challenge him to a debate on the legality of the PPS.
" I wonder if he (Khalid) is brave enough? " said Lim.
About 154 PPS members were detained yesterday after participating in the Merdeka Day parade at the Esplanade and brought to the Lebuh Pantai police station.
They were later brought to the North East District Police Headquarters and detained there for a night.
Some 20 PPS members including seven women and senior citizens were later released.
All of them are expected to be remanded today.