'When will I be arrested,' Guan Eng asks IGP.

Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng is mulling as to when the police will come after him on the state's voluntary patrol unit (PPS) issue, especially after 156 of its members were detained yesterday.

“Maybe I should ask, ‘When will I be arrested?’ I am waiting for him (Inspector-General of Police Khalid Abu Bakar),” Lim told reporters this morning.

The chief minister was speaking outside the Northeast District police headquarters, where the PPS members are being held pending their remand order to be issued by a magistrate.

Lim said the state government would not bow down to the IGP’s “threats” after he ordered the Penang police to arrest the PPS members, including state executive councillor Phee Boon Poh after the Merdeka March at the Esplanade yesterday.

“We are brave not because we are strong. We are weak. See, I was at the police headquarters until after 3am to appeal for the women and the senior citizens to be released because they did nothing wrong,” Lim said.

“So, we don't have the power like the IGP. But even if we are weak, we will not bow down to his threats, because of only one principle: the truth,” Lim added.

“We are brave because we are true. I know he (Khalid) is very brave because he has the power. I congratulate him. Syabas!”

Lim then challenged Khalid to a public debate on the PPS issue, asking if the federal police chief was “brave enough” to attend the session.

“Is he willing to debate on his irresponsible statement and arrest of Phee and also the taking of the chief minister’s statement last night?” Lim asked.

'Crackdown to undermine Penang government'

Lim said the police have started a massive crackdown to undermine the Pakatan Rakyat government in Penang.

He strongly condemned Phee’s arrest and the unwillingness of the police to release him, although they agreed to release seven women and 13 senior citizens aged 60 and above.

He questioned why Phee, who is 62, was not released.

Lim was upset with Khalid’s remarks  that PPS is “illegal” and its members were “gangsters”.

He questioned why police acted on reports by some newspapers, including the Chinese media, which had grudges against Phee and the PPS.

“Was it enough just to base its action on the reports and conclude that the PPS is samseng (gangsters)?” he asked.

“The PPS members were arrested not for rioting but for attending the Merdeka parade yesterday,” Lim added.

-Malaysiakini-