SIBU: 502 police officers and personnel from all Sibu District Police Headquarters (IPDs) will be mobilised to help in the forthcoming 14th General Election (GE14).
Inspector-General of Police, Tan Sri Mohamad Fuzi Harun said he was very pleased with the comprehensive briefing by Sibu District Police Chief, ACP Stanley Jonathan Ringgit on the preparation for the election.
“We are quite relieved because in Sarawak, GE14 will only involve parliamentary seats and not the state seats.
“We are ready to face any possible possibilities and confident that we will be able to handle the security issues in Sibu well and effectively during the election process which is expected to be held in the near future,” Mohamad told a press conference at the IPD Sibu after attending a briefing by the Sibu Police Chief.
He said in Sarawak, logistics issues had been addressed and “almost 100 percent solved”.
Welfare issues for the police personnel involved had also been taken into account.
“We will assist the Election Commission (EC) and other agencies to ensure the smooth running of the GE14 programme without any undesirable consequences.
“Simulated exercises have been carried out by the IPD Sibu and we have set up four “Life Strike Force” (LSF) groups to deal with security issues and we are building the “Cantas” team.”
“This is meant to address criminal issues if there are gangsterism issues or thugs who are trying to disturb the coming GE14 in the Sibu District.
“ I’m very satisfied with the preparation and the efforts to further improve our preparedness by the Sibu Police Chief, the Sibu Deputy Police Chief with their officers and personnel,” he said.
“I am confident that these issues will be handled very well and without any interruption during the election of the Lanang and Sibu Members of Parliament,” he said.
Responding to a question on “hot spot” areas during GE14, Mohamad replied: “In Sibu, there are two areas that may be hot spot areas during the campaign.
“The Sibu Police Chief will ensure nothing will jeopardise the security situation there. Preparations for hot spots not only involve the Sibu District, but all the Districts in Sarawak.
“In Sarawak, we have identified 17 hot spot areas. They are also in Miri, Kuching, Stampin and Bintulu. These problem areas also exist in Peninsula Malaysia.”
“Appropriate actions have been taken by the Sarawak Commissioner of Police to address the problems,” he explained.
Mohamad also pointed out that the PDRM (Royal Malaysian Police) was not in favour of any political party.
Among those present at the press conference were the Federal Police Narcotics Investigation Department Director, Datuk Seri Mohamad Salleh, Sibu Police Chief, ACP Stanley Jonathan Ringgit and Sibu Deputy Police Chief, Supt. Martin Khoo.
