Penang govt launches Voluntary Patrol Body (BPS)

BUKIT MERTAJAM: The Penang government has launched a new volunteer unit called Voluntary Patrol Body (BPS) to replace its outlawed Voluntary Patrol Unit (PPS).
Penang Welfare, Caring Society, Health & Environment exco Phee Boon Poh said the BPS was forned under the Welfare, Unity and Community Relations Bureau of the Village Development and Security Committee (JKKK).
He said the purpose of the BPS is to look after the safety and security in each locality that it covered and also to assist the public during rescue and emergency situations.
"Up to this moment, BPS has been set up in 40 areas of the legislative assembly (KADUN) in the state. The state government has also allocated RM30,000 for each KADUN to set up its BPS.
"This time we have submitted all applicants' information to police to be vetted before they are accepted as BPS members," he said after Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng launched the BPS today.
Currently, there are 607 BPS members in the whole of Penang.
Phee, however, said the number would be increased in the future as the state government had just launched it.
He rejected the claim that previous PPS members were afraid of participating.
Earlier in the BPS launching ceremony, Lim said accusations made against PPS, claiming that its members did not have discipline, were unfounded and baseless.
Lim said the BPS was a clean and disciplined unit to ensure the safety and harmony in the state.
The PPS, formed in 2011 by the Penang state executive council to fight crime and help with voluntary work, had about 9,000 members.
It was declared illegal by the Home Ministry in November last year and the state government later challenged the ban through the courts.
The Penang High Court rejected the state government’s attempt to review the Home Ministry ban.