GEORGE TOWN (Dec 30, 2009) : Police are preparing more than 4,000 officers, backed by helicopters and Rela personnel, to ensure peace and safety during New Year’s eve celebrations in Penang island and Seberang Perai tomorrow night .

Penang CPO Datuk Wira Ayub Yaakob said the police were leaving no stone unturned to ensure there were no untoward incidents following rowdy scenes during the recent Christmas eve celebrations.

He said police would also set up mobile roadblocks to check on bikers but declined to say where they would be.

The celebrations at various locations across the state are expected to draw large crowds at hot spots like Gurney Drive, the Esplanade, Queensbay Mall and Juru Auto City.

"We will not hesitate to arrest any trouble-maker. We want to make sure families that go out to celebrate the occasion can do so peacefully," he told a press conference at the state police headquarters today.

He said the police would be equipped with cameras to record trouble-makers and bring them to book, stressing that all officers on leave had been asked to return for duty for tonight.

In the incident on Dec 24, some revellers had sprayed on cars and hit out at Rela officers and journalists.

Ayub said one of the unruly revellers had been identified and charged under section 324 of the Penal Code for voluntarily causing hurt.

On another matter, Ayub said police had not found a link between a knife attack on a man in Mak Mandin on Sunday and his actions in burning and stepping on a portrait of Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng during a demonstration outside the Penang State Assembly late last month.

S. Krishnan Nair, better known as ‘Mak Mandin Kumar’, was slashed on his right leg and back when he was allegedly ambushed by the eight attackers while on his way home at about 10pm.

Ayub said police were investigating the incident and urged people not to jump to conclusions about the motive.

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