ALOR GAJAH: The 16th Melaka State Election (PRN) cannot be used as a field of provocation that could disrupt public order, but rather the democratic process must take place in a peaceful and controlled environment, said Chief Minister Datuk Seri Ab Rauf Yusoh.
Ab Rauf said that although the people are free to differ in party, political views and choices, aspects of security, the well-being of the people and the stability of the state must always be a priority.
“Elections are a field of democracy, not a field of provocation. We can have different parties, different views and different choices, but when it comes to the security and well-being of the people and the stability of the state of Melaka, our principle must be clear that there is no greater political interest than the peace of the state,” he said.
He said this at the Closing Ceremony of the Ex-Voters Charity Exercise for the 16th Melaka State Election (Public Order Simulation) at the Datuk Kapt (Rtd) Haji Ab Karim Hall here last night.
Also present were Deputy Director (General Policing/Disaster Crisis) of the Bukit Aman Internal Security and Public Order Department, DCP Datuk MV Srikumar and Melaka Police Chief Datuk Dzulkhairi Mukhtar.
Ab Rauf said the simulation exercise was not just a demonstration but rather proved that the state government and security forces were always ready and would not compromise against any threat that could threaten the state’s peace.
He also expressed his appreciation to the Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM) Melaka Contingent who sparked the idea of implementing the training, which is the first of its kind in the state.
Meanwhile, Dzulkhairi said that apart from the police, all parties involved were at the highest level of preparedness to face the Melaka state election which is expected to be held this September.
He said the two-day simulation proved that the entire state security machinery was prepared to face various possibilities throughout the election process, encompassing various scenarios including escorting ballot boxes, riot control, provocations, fire incidents and dispersal actions according to established operating procedures.
“The element of provocation from the public was something we expected, but based on intelligence, Melaka is relatively under control and peaceful. We did not expect such a riot to occur, but we are still making initial preparations.”
“Every weakness identified during this exercise will be corrected and all operating procedures streamlined before the election to ensure the level of preparedness is at the best possible level,” he said.
Dzulkhairi said that apart from the PDRM, the large-scale simulation with 395 officers, members and representatives of various agencies also involved the National Security Council, the Election Commission, the Malaysian Fire and Rescue Department, the Malaysian Civil Defence Force and the Ministry of Health.
The 16th Malacca PRN involved 685,455 registered voters at 264 polling centres with 1,198 voting channels throughout the state.
To ensure that the voting process runs smoothly, Melaka PDRM will mobilize more than 3,300 officers and personnel, supported by the Public Riot Action Unit (PORU), a troop of the Federal Reserve Unit (FRU) as well as the activation of four operations rooms at the contingent and district levels.
— BERNAMA
