Despite Bersih moving its rally indoors, 1,200 police personnel will continue with their refresher course.
KUALA LUMPUR: The police are pushing ahead with their two-day refresher course for 1,200 personnel despite the Bersih 2.0 rally being moved indoors.
The course, which involves officers as well as rank-and-file personnel from all state contingent headquarters, is being conducted at the police training centre in Cheras.
It focuses on how to handle demonstrations and partcipants are briefed on the laws and limitations of the police in exercising their powers under such circumstances.
FMT learnt that briefings will be carried out by the police’s internal security and public order department as well as deputy public prosecutors from the Attorney-General’s Office.
The latter will coach the participants on evidence gathering in order to ensure successful prosecutions when the demonstrators are arrested and produced in court.
Lack of evidence
A senior police officer, who declined to be named, told FMT that in the past, many of those detained walked free due to lack of evidence.
“This time we want more visuals and photographs to ensure those participating in illegal rallies are convicted and sentenced,” he said.
He explained that the course also aims to improve coordination among the various units to ensure that there are no untoward incidents and excessive power is not used against the demonstrators.
“You must remember, for some of these personnel, street demonstrations are something rare and they should have some knowledge on how to handle this kind of a situation,” he added.
He also said that all police personnel have been ordered to be on standby nationwide.
After an audience with the Yang di-Pertuan Agong yesterday, Bersih 2.0 chairperson Ambiga Sreenevasan said the rally planned for July 9 will be held indoors and that demonstrators will not take to the streets.
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