KOTA KINABALU: The Royal Malaysian Police (RMP) have decided to withdraw the outrider escort for Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad as the former prime minister had attended several unlawful assemblies, said Inspector General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar.
Khalid, however, said that Mahathir’s personal bodyguard would not be withdrawn for his personal safety.
“We will never put the former prime minister’s safety at risk,” he told reporters after presenting medals to 200 policemen who served during the Ops Daulat intrusion by Sulu militants in Lahad Datu in 2013.
“We only decided to revoke the outrider escort because he (Tun Mahathir) had used the traffic escort to attend illegal gatherings such as the Bersih rally, the Anti-GST rally, as well as the Citizens’ Declaration, which are all against the law and the Constitution.
“How can we escort him to such events? We cannot support it, so I decided to revoke it,” he said.
Khalid, however, said that the revocation was not permanent which would be based on a case to case basis.
“We will escort him for official function,” he added.
Khalid also warned non-police personnel against providing any such escorts for the former prime minister, saying that action would be taken against them.
“Public who attempt to escort Tun M (Tun Mahathir) vehicle or convoys are not well trained to do so, which could pose danger not only to themselves but to other road users.
“I hope Tun M understands our stand in having to uphold the laws of the country and our Constitution,” he said.