Post-GE violence: Cops keep eyes on Selangor

Internal Security and Public Order director says Selangor is "the most sensitive area" in regards to GE-related riots.

PETALING JAYA: The police yesterday conducted a nationwide exercise in preparation of the 13th general election, with Selangor being named as the state with the highest risk of riot occurrence.

The exercise saw the police enacting mock violent scenes and on how to combat them in the event things turn ugly after the polls.

On hand to witness the exercise in person was the National Internal Security and Public Order chief Salleh Mat Rashid who was in Petaling Jaya yesterday.

The exercise, dubbed as “Latihan Amali Ex Ballot”, saw the participation of some 400 police personnel in Selangor alone, including those from the Federal Reserve Unit (FRU) and Light Strike Force (LFS).

Oriental Daily today reported that some of the police personnel had acted as supporters from two opposing political camps, and a group of them who were upset with the election results confronted the other by using arms, throwing bottles and burning vehicles.

Provocations between two rival groups lasted for 10 minutes before a contingent of LFS arrived at the scene to separate them.

However, the LFS’ attempt was unsuccessful, as rioters did the horse-riding dance move from South Korea song ‘Gangnam Style’ and threw petrol bombs to provoke the police.

The FRU was then deployed to disperse the rioters and Selangor police chief cited Section 31 of the Police Act to impose curfew, ending the exercise.

At a press conference later, Salleh told Oriental Daily that Selangor was given prominence because it was picked by all state police chiefs as “the most sensitive area”.

He added that the exercise was meant to allow the police and the public to understand the authorities’ actions if a public disorder occurred after the GE.