KOTA KINABALU: Police have identified eight parliamentary and 13 state seats in Sabah as potential ‘hot spots’ in the 13th general election (GE13).
State Police Commissioner Datuk Hamza Taib said the eight parliamentary seats are Kota Kinabalu, Sandakan, Beaufort, Sepanggar, Pensiangan, Tawau, Tuaran and Penampang.
The state seats identified are Likas, Luyang, Api-Api, Inanam, Kepayan, Bingkor, Sri Tanjung, Klias, Kuala Penyu, Elopura, Tanjung Papat, Merotai and Karamunting.
“These areas have been identified as potential ‘hot spots’ not because of high risk in crime but the expected fierce competition between political parties contesting in the area.
“Police will therefore be taking reasonable measures to enhance the security level in those areas to prevent unwanted incidents,” he said at a press conference after a dialogue with political parties contesting in GE13 at the state police headquarters in Kepayan yesterday.
Hamza said about 7,000 police officers and personnel from various departments would be involved during GE13 to ensure security is well maintained.
“I am urging all political parties that will be contesting to comply with the Election Act 1958 and the Election Offences Act 1958 as well as the Peaceful Assembly Act 2012 to ensure GE13 proceed smoothly without any untoward incidents occurring,” he said.
Meanwhile, Hamza informed that once nomination of candidates is announced on April 20, application for permits for campaigning purposes would be open on 24-hour basis. He said application for permits could be made at all district police headquarters throughout the campaign period until polling day on May 5.