Phee freed on bail but police to continue crackdown

GEORGE TOWN: Penang Welfare and Caring Committee chairman Phee Boon Poh has been released on police bail after spending a night in the lock-up at the northeast district police headquarters.
When he stepped out, Phee was given a warm reception by his supporters who had been waiting anxiously following the arrest of the Penang Voluntary Patrol Unit (PPS) members.
Supporters and loyalists were seen clapping their hands in welcoming back their "hero".
Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, Bukit Gelugor MP Ramkarpal Singh and several state executive council members accompanied Phee when he walked out from the police station around 6.20pm.
Phee said he was thankful and appreciated the state and legal team's efforts in helping obtain his release and 135 members who will be out in stages.
"I am willing to sacrifice for a better Penang," he said in tears after being released.
Earlier, Penang police declared they will continue with the crackdown on the PPS members who are still at large in the state.
State police chief Datuk Abdul Rahim Hanafi said police will continue with their efforts to detain the remaining members under Section 41 of the Societies Act 1966.
He urged the members to surrender themselves immediately.
"Surrender yourself," he warned at a press conference in Northeast district police headquarters in Jalan Patani accompanied by district police chief ACP Mior Faridalatrash Wahid yesterday.
The PPS controversy erupted after a 51-year-old businessman, Ong Eu Soon, claimed he was assaulted by two PPS men.
In early 2013, a PPS member assaulted a Guang Ming Daily reporter and destroyed his camera. The member involved has since been expelled and fined in court for his offence.
On Sunday, 156 PPS members including Phee, have been detained.
Rahim said 21 members, including seven women and those aged 60 and above, have since been released on police bail early yesterday.
He added that four PPS members have also been tested positive in their urine tests.
However, Lim earlier told reporters that those tested positive were senior citizens and on medication.
He said they were not involved in drugs as reported.
Rahim also said that 11 of the detained PPS members had previous criminal records for attempted murder, drug-related offences, robbery, theft and triad.
"One of them was detained under the Emergency Ordinance 1969, " he said.