IGP warns public against taking law into own hands

The Star Newspaper / 8 Mar 2008
 

KUALA LUMPUR: Supporters of political parties have no right to stop buses or check the passengers' identity cards, said the Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Musa Hassan.

He warned that police would arrest anyone who carried out such acts.

"We can charge them with rioting, public disorder, illegal confinement and even with criminal intimidation.

"Do not take the law into your own hands. Lodge police reports if you are not satisfied and we will investigate them," he said yesterday.

Musa gave the assurance that police had the situation under control for polling day and urged the people to come out and vote without fear.

He added that policemen had been stationed at all polling centres nationwide and they had been briefed on their job responsibilities.

In Ipoh, state CPO Deputy Comm Datuk Zulkifli Abdullah urged those who had been stopped from casting their votes to make reports.

"We are not going to allow anyone to stop buses or cars. If anyone tries to do this, they will be committing a crime and appropriate action will be taken against them," he said.

He said Perak police had mobilised some 7,800 officers and personnel to maintain public order today.

He added that the police had identified several areas in the state where the margins are expected to be narrow.

"We will pay close attention to these areas," he said.

As of 4pm yesterday, DCP Zulkifli said a total of 48 investigation papers had been opened for election-related offences.

So far, eight arrests have been made for offences such as criminal intimidation, outraging modesty and committing mischief like tearing down banners and lowering flags.

On the single outraging modesty case, DCP Zulkifli said the incident involved those in the same political party.

"It is only because it happened in this period that we decided to classify it under election-related crimes," he said.