The Home Minister has declared the Voluntary Patrol Unit (PPS) in Penang as an illegal organisation.

Home Ministry Secretary-General Datuk Seri Mohamad Khalid Shariff said in a statement today that the declaration was made yesterday (Nov 3) according to Section 5(1) of the Societies Act 1966.

He said that the provision under Section 5 of the Societies Act 1966 [Act 335] concerned the power of the minister to declare an organisation as an illegal body.

"The Penang PPS is an organisation that carries out activities that are hazardous to public peace in the country," he said.

Following the declaration, he said, no one could again use the name, symbol or logo of the Penang PPS as an organisation based on the provision under Section 7(3) of the Societies Act 1966.

Mohamad Khalid said all accounts, assets, and properties of the Penang PPS would also be handed over and wound up by the Malaysian Insolvency Department.

He said that following the declaration, no one could hold any position, carry out the functions of a member, allowing any meeting to be held in the building, to announce and act on behalf of the unit or to represent it.

Those responsible for carrying out any activity of the Penang PPS would be investigated and could be charged in court for committing an offence under Act 335, including Section 42 and Section 48 of the Societies Act 1966 and Section 142 of the Penal Code, he said.

Subsequently, he called on everyone to give their cooperation in helping the government to check the activities of the Penang PPS which contradicted the existing laws.

After five years of its formation, the PPS is reported to have 296 groups operating in 40 areas by receiving financial resources from the Penang state government amounting to between RM20,000 and RM30,000 each year in each state constituency.