Ops Bersih cops get last briefing

Police expect 30,000 at tomorrow’s rally.

KUALA LUMPUR: Some 1,500 arresting officers this morning received their final briefing on handling tomorrow’s Bersih rally.

The police operation has been codenamed “Ops Bersih”.

The 1,500 will be divided into 150 teams deployed at different locations in the city.

A police source told FMT that some of the policemen were from outside Kuala Lumpur and not familiar with the standard procedures of handling large crowds of demonstrators.

This morning’s briefing was conducted at Universiti Malaya.

The source said police estimated 30,000 people to turn up for the Bersih rally.

“We identified some weaknesses in our strategies, especially with news that rival groups might gather at the same locations,” he said.

“Our men are being told not to compromise with either Bersih or Umno Youth or Perkasa supporters. They must arrest immediately all those demonstrators who ignore the order to disperse.”

The same group of 1,500 attended a refresher course on Tuesday and Wednesday at the Cheras Police Training College.

The source added that 3,000 policemen from the General Operation Force, the Federal Reserve Unit and the Special Branch will be deployed from midnight today at various parts of the centre to handle traffic flow and carry out general crime prevention duties.

FMT has learnt that all arrested rally participants will be taken to the Jinjang police station, where investigating officers will record their statements. Only those suspected of having committed serious offences will be detained overnight.

It is also learnt that about a half dozen magistrates will be on standby to hear police applications to remand suspects.

“Generally, we want to ensure that all the formalities at the police station will be concluded within hours,” another police source said. “Those demonstrators who commit minor offences will be released on police bail.”

He said that according to police intelligence, a substantial number of Bersih supporters were already in the city and that budget hotels around the Pudu bus station, Petaling Street and Jalan Ipoh were fully booked, mostly by guests from the east coast.