Two Penang Voluntary Patrol Unit (PPS) members and a social activist claimed trial for fighting in a public place at a George Town Magistrate's Court this morning.
The PPS members Lee Yew Kuen, 66, and Lee Chan Kwong, 35, and 51-year-old businessman and social activist Ong Eu Soon were jointly charged for allegedly committing the offence under Section 160 of the Penal Code on August 17.
The alleged fight took place during a Hungry Ghost Festival dinner near a market in Bandar Baru Air Itam at about 10.45pm.
The two Lees, who are not related, were represented by counsel R.S.N. Rayer while Ong had no lawyer.
Deputy public prosecutor Datuk Razali Che Ani asked the court to fix RM2,500 bail for each of the accused.
Rayer appealed for bail to be reduced to RM1,000 for each of his clients because they had families to care for.
"Both do not have fixed occupations and work part-time to earn money for their families," he said.
Magistrate L. Uma Devi allowed bail for all three accused at RM1,200 each and fixed October 31 for mention.
She also told Ong to get himself a lawyer within a month.
The court set bail at RM1,200 with "one surety each".
Who attacked first?
Ong had reportedly alleged that the PPS members wearing purple vests attacked him when he acknowledged them after they asked for him by name.
But the two Lees said in a press conference later that it was Ong who had first attacked them.
If they are found guilty, the three will face a month’s jail, a fine up to RM200 or both.
Furore created
The assault allegations led the state-funded PPS into its present controversy, with federal authorities regarding the unregistered unit illegal and detractors accusing its members of gangsterism.
On Merdeka Day, at the state-level celebration in Penang, police arrested over 150 PPS members who took part in the parade, along with the unit's chairman, state exco Phee Boon Poh. DAP elected reps R.S.N. Rayer and Ng Wei Aik were also detained over their involvement with the unit.
The DAP-led state government has since argued that the unit is legally set up by the state just like the Village Security and Development Committees (JKKK) and needs not register.
State leaders, including Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, have repeatedly said the unit was serving the community well by going on neighbourhood patrols to help combat crime and offering help in emergency response and others on a voluntary basis.
The Home Ministry has defended the arrests by the police with Home Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi saying last week that there was no need for any organisation to be set up to take over the duties of the police.
He also said there were 11 PPS members with criminal records. He promised to screen all the members to ensure those who were part of secret societies and those with criminal records would not escape the law.
Two weeks ago, his deputy Datuk Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar said state governments do not have jurisdiction over matters of security, so they are not allowed to set up their own standing army or police force. - TMI
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