Police to deploy 7,000 personnel for security in state polls

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IPOH: Police will be mobilise 7,000 officers and men for security control throughout the coming 11th Sarawak state election.

Bukit Aman Internal Security and Public Order Department (KDNKA) director Datuk Muhammad Fuad Abu Zarim said the number was required as Sarawak has 82 State Legislative Assembly seats.

He said KDNKA had also discussed with Sarawak police to determine the division of tasks at voting stations in the state.

“We will evaluate whether policemen from the Peninsula or Sabah are needed to control security,” he told reporters after a working visit to the North Brigade of the General Operations Force Camp in Ulu Kinta, here today.

Elaborating further, Muhammad Fuad said as preparations for the state election, various training sessions were conducted to boost the mental and physical strength of all members involved.

On Jan 30, Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem said the state government had proposed to the Election Commission to hold the election on April 30, while the nomination of candidates would be held on April 18.

In another development, Muhammad Fuad said a strategy was being formulated on the setting up of Border Security Agency (AKS) to strengthen security at the border and to combat cross-border threats.

He said KDNKA would also be studying from various aspects before making the decision on combining various enforcement agencies through the National Blue Ocean Strategy (NBOS).

“We will study the ESSCom format or any other border control format for the setting up AKS.

He said a combination of all agencies and enforcement departments at each national border such as the Smuggling Prevention Unit as well as the Royal Customs Department was rational in tackling Daesh militant threats in the country.

“The objective of setting up AKS was to ensure each border area of the country is under control from the nation’s enemies apart from smugglers which could cause instability to the country’s economy.

Muhammad Fuad added that KDNKA would also be cooperating with the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) to prevent any attempts by Daesh militants to recruit new members via social media. – Bernama