Police monitor borders to prevent disruption in election process

KOTA BHARU: The Royal Malaysia Police ( PDRM) will monitor and patrol the MalaysiaThailand border areas in Kelantan, Kedah, Perak, Perlis, and the Malaysia-Indonesia border areas in Sarawak and Sabah to prevent any disruption to the election process during the upcoming general election (GE14).

Bukit Aman Internal Security and Public Order Department director Datuk Seri Zulkif li Abdul lah said police would collaborate with the Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF) to patrol the national borders.

“The purpose of the MalaysiaThailand border patrols will be to ensure there are no elements of sabotage that could occur, especially in Kelantan. The patrols may go on right up to Perlis.

“We will be doing the same thing in Sabah especially in the Sabah east coast areas. These are areas which have their own history and need patrolling and monitoring. We do not want the public to feel afraid to go out to vote,” he said.

Zulki f l i was speaking to reporters af ter visiting the Kelantan Contingent Police Headquarters here yesterday and attending a briefi ng on GE14.

Also present were Kelantan police chief Datuk Hasanuddin Hassan and his deputy Datuk Din Ahmad.

In a related development , Zulkifli said police would use the services of 1,700 People’s Volunteer Corps ( Rela) personnel to help traffic police ensure smooth flow of traffic, especially on polling day.

He said police had also formed a special monitoring team especial ly for hotspot areas identified from data obtained during GE13.

“It cannot be denied that there are hotspot areas, especially where the victorious party won with a slim majority. Here, the competition is expected to be stiff and the contesting parties will work to ensure victory.

“So far, the preparations made by the PDRM are very satisfactory. If necessary, we will get outside assistance, especially during the campaign period, polling and post- election period,” he added.