Penang Voluntary Patrol Squad (PPS) chairman Phee Boon Poh has been detained and the police have also recorded Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng's statement to facilitate investigation on the patrol squad set up by the DAP-led State Government.

North East District police chief ACP Mior Faridalatrash Wahid said Phee, who is State Welfare, Caring Society and Environment Committee chairman, was detained after police recorded his statement.

"Phee turned up at the North East District Police Headquarters at 4.30pm and police detained him for further investigation, while Lim was freed after his statement was recorded," he said when contacted by Bernama here, today.

He said police also recorded the statement from Seri Delima State Assemblyman RSN Rayer.

As of 6pm today, 156 PPS members, including Phee and seven women, were detained to facilitate police investigation on the squad for allegedly flouting regulations, as well as not registered the Registrar of Societies (ROS).

154 of them were detained after they took part in a Merdeka parade at Padang Kota here.

Mior Faridalatrash said 18 of them, including seven women, had been released on police bail this evening.

Police would obtain an order to remand the others tomorrow, he added Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar was reported to have said that the PPS members, including seven women, were detained at 10.15am to facilitate investigation for breaching regulations under Section 41 of the Societies Act.