IPOH, April 5 – The police are ready to ensure a smooth 13th general election, according to assurances given today by the police in several states. Perak Police chief Datuk Mohd Shukri Dahlan(pic) said 8,600 officers and policemen would be mobilised for the duration of the general election in the state.
“The police will identify the hotspots and measures will be adopted to ensure the safety of the people,” he told reporters after the monthly gathering, here.
He said the cooperation of all quarters was essential to ensure a smooth general election. In JOHOR BAHARU, the police reminded all quarters, especially political parties contesting in Johor, against sparking tension. Johor police chief Datuk Mohd Mokhtar Mohd Shariff said the police were ready in terms of human resources, logistics and knowledge on implementation of duties.
Speaking to reporters after a briefing for the media in conjunction with the general election, at the Johor Police headquarters here, he announced the setting up of a media operations room there, with management department chief ACP Abdul Aziz Ahmad as the official spokesman, to facilitate media representatives during the general election.
He said the police would also channel all information on the general election at www.polisjohor.gov.my.
In KUCHING, Sarawak Police Deputy Commissioner SAC Datuk Law Hong Soon said the police had adequate personnel to face the parliamentary election in the state. Although some policemen from the state were involved in the “Ops Daulat” offensive in Sabah, it would not affect the police preparation for the election in Sarawak.
“We give the assurance that peace and security will prevail during the general election. The public need not worry and can come out to vote. We will have an incident-free general election,” he said. Law spoke to reporters after welcoming officers and men of the 11th battalion of the General Operations Force their return from in Lahad Datu, Sabah, where they had been engaged in the offensive against terrorists.
In KUALA TERENGGANU, the police reminded all supporters of political parties not to provoke people into quarrelling and fighting during the general election. State Police chief Datuk Jamshah Mustapa warned of stern action against parties or individuals causing chaos which could undermine the smooth election process.
He said 3,000 police officers and men had been deployed following the dissolution of the Dewan Rakyat and the state legislative assembly. In PEKAN, Pahang, police chief Supt Yahaya Othman said more than 400 policemen would be on duty in the Pekan parliamentary constituency to ensure an incident-free general election. All the policemen would be on duty on nomination day and polling day, he said.
“They have attended courses and briefings in their preparation to face the 13th general election,” he told Bernama.
The Pekan parliamentary seat was held by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak in the last Dewan Rakyat. There are four state seats in the parliamentary constituency, namely Pulau Manis, Peramu Jaya, Bebar and Chini, which were all held by the BN in the last Pahang legislative assembly.
BERNAMA
