“A safe army is better than a safe border.”
- BR Ambedkar
COMMENT Director of Internal Security and Public Order Department Salleh Mat Rasid said, “So far, the police can still keep the peace. We keep in touch with the military and will ask them to help if necessary.” What exactly does Salleh mean when he says “so far”?
Although I (and I am sure many people support the oppositional forces in this country) may have different views on the necessity of these 505 Black rallies, one thing is for sure, if the security forces in this country do not hamper the peaceful assembling of anti-establishment forces, “peace” is maintained along with the principles of freedom of expression and assembly.
Post-GE13 what we have been witness to as far as massive rallies are concerned is that a restrained or should that be constrained Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM) has resulted in peaceful assemblies where responsible citizens gather and disperse without destabilising the country or public safety.
In other words, “so far”, with everybody behaving responsibly, those canards of “street protests” disrupting the everyday lives of ordinary citizens have been exposed for the venal propaganda which is best left to the propaganda organs who almost never address the issues head on.
As it is amongst a certain section of the Malaysian public, the PDRM has no credibility whatsoever. Custodial deaths, corruption and the perception that the PDRM is beholden to their political masters is the public face of an institution that is supposed to protect the interests of every citizen of Malaysia regardless of political affiliation.
Therefore, when Salleh advises the public “not to get involved with the opposition rally or with activities that violate the law”, his lack of objectivity, not to mention his unprofessional behaviour, is on full display.
Firstly, how is participating in an opposition rally violating the law? Now if the opposition had failed to satisfy whatever bizarre formalities are required to hold this particular public demonstration, then Salleh should have qualified his statement.
Secondly, this continuing equating of support of oppositional forces with violation of laws is frankly moronic considering the results of the recent general elections and the fact that the opposition is the establishment in certain states.
The reality of subservience
It also points to the immaturity of our public institutions, not to mention the perception of subservience, no not perception, the reality of subservience to their political masters. If the PDRM gave an escort to opposition rallies like those that they did with the cow head protesters, I am sure this reality would be dispelled overnight.
As it is the best people can hope for is that when it comes to opposition rallies, if the PDRM does not do its job - maintain minimal police presence - the chances of a peaceful gathering, are almost guaranteed.
However, what it more troubling is the casual manner in which Salleh mentions that he is keeping “in touch” with the military and will “ask for help” if necessary. Exactly what kind of help is Salleh asking for?
Looking back at the disreputable manner in which the PDRM engaged with ordinary citizens in rallies pre-GE13, I can only conclude that what the PDRM may need help in is tear-gassing citizens and dialoging with Malaysians with batons. Now is this the kind of help that the military should be extending to the PDRM?
Now as a former military officer, I know very well that the military and the PDRM maintain contact and exchange ideas on a whole range of security issues affecting this country. We work in tandem keeping the country safe from enemies both foreign and domestic. I have no idea how it is now, but causally mentioning that the military would be called in for is essentially a domestic issue, is tantamount to threatening the public with military force.
I am surprised that there was not an immediate response from the armed forces. But then again, I have been surprised by the responses of the armed forces on a whole range of issues. However, maybe I am mistaken.
Perhaps what Salleh meant by “military” was members of Relawan Rakyat Malaysia or Rela. After all, despite objections from many retired service personnel, Section 22 of the Rela Act 2012 enabled Rela to use the established army rank structure. Perhaps these are the “military” personnel who have been used before to “disrupt” peaceful assemblies but who have been stamped with the respectability of Army ranks. Who knows?
(Concerning the Rela Act and army ranks, the Retired Armed Forces Officers Association (RAFOC) were assured that the relevant schedule would be repealed once the election (GE13) was concluded, but no action has been taken. RAFOC approached Ahmad Zahid Hamidi before he left his post and reminded him of his reassurances that action would be taken, but to date there has been no information forthcoming from the current defence minister.)
Neither the PDRM nor the military can afford such bad publicity. Both of these institutions are grappling with their own internal problems concerning a whole range of issues that have brought them into public opprobrium. Many retired service personnel who support the establishment or the opposition are dismayed that these institutions are drawn into the games of the political forces of this country.
Deserving of a reprimand
To casually claim that the military would be used against dissenting citizens of this country is something that deserves a reprimand from the federal establishment if it is truly interested in the integrity of our security forces, not to mention the welfare of its citizens.
Silence merely confirms the decrepit state of our security apparatus, where anything goes as long as it serves the interest of a political party hell-bent on maintaining its hegemony. It is also further evidence of the racialist right wing strategy that in the long term will eventually destabilise the peace and security of this country.
I realise that these days any criticism of the public institutions of this country is spun as criticisms against a specific community. The least the PDRM or those who are in control of it could do is not drag other institutions into their messes. The fact that establishment forces are not cognisant of this is merely a reflection of the hubris that comes with uninterrupted rule.
- BR Ambedkar
COMMENT Director of Internal Security and Public Order Department Salleh Mat Rasid said, “So far, the police can still keep the peace. We keep in touch with the military and will ask them to help if necessary.” What exactly does Salleh mean when he says “so far”?
Although I (and I am sure many people support the oppositional forces in this country) may have different views on the necessity of these 505 Black rallies, one thing is for sure, if the security forces in this country do not hamper the peaceful assembling of anti-establishment forces, “peace” is maintained along with the principles of freedom of expression and assembly.
Post-GE13 what we have been witness to as far as massive rallies are concerned is that a restrained or should that be constrained Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM) has resulted in peaceful assemblies where responsible citizens gather and disperse without destabilising the country or public safety.
In other words, “so far”, with everybody behaving responsibly, those canards of “street protests” disrupting the everyday lives of ordinary citizens have been exposed for the venal propaganda which is best left to the propaganda organs who almost never address the issues head on.
As it is amongst a certain section of the Malaysian public, the PDRM has no credibility whatsoever. Custodial deaths, corruption and the perception that the PDRM is beholden to their political masters is the public face of an institution that is supposed to protect the interests of every citizen of Malaysia regardless of political affiliation.Therefore, when Salleh advises the public “not to get involved with the opposition rally or with activities that violate the law”, his lack of objectivity, not to mention his unprofessional behaviour, is on full display.
Firstly, how is participating in an opposition rally violating the law? Now if the opposition had failed to satisfy whatever bizarre formalities are required to hold this particular public demonstration, then Salleh should have qualified his statement.
Secondly, this continuing equating of support of oppositional forces with violation of laws is frankly moronic considering the results of the recent general elections and the fact that the opposition is the establishment in certain states.
The reality of subservience
It also points to the immaturity of our public institutions, not to mention the perception of subservience, no not perception, the reality of subservience to their political masters. If the PDRM gave an escort to opposition rallies like those that they did with the cow head protesters, I am sure this reality would be dispelled overnight.
As it is the best people can hope for is that when it comes to opposition rallies, if the PDRM does not do its job - maintain minimal police presence - the chances of a peaceful gathering, are almost guaranteed.
However, what it more troubling is the casual manner in which Salleh mentions that he is keeping “in touch” with the military and will “ask for help” if necessary. Exactly what kind of help is Salleh asking for?
Looking back at the disreputable manner in which the PDRM engaged with ordinary citizens in rallies pre-GE13, I can only conclude that what the PDRM may need help in is tear-gassing citizens and dialoging with Malaysians with batons. Now is this the kind of help that the military should be extending to the PDRM?
Now as a former military officer, I know very well that the military and the PDRM maintain contact and exchange ideas on a whole range of security issues affecting this country. We work in tandem keeping the country safe from enemies both foreign and domestic. I have no idea how it is now, but causally mentioning that the military would be called in for is essentially a domestic issue, is tantamount to threatening the public with military force.
I am surprised that there was not an immediate response from the armed forces. But then again, I have been surprised by the responses of the armed forces on a whole range of issues. However, maybe I am mistaken.
Perhaps what Salleh meant by “military” was members of Relawan Rakyat Malaysia or Rela. After all, despite objections from many retired service personnel, Section 22 of the Rela Act 2012 enabled Rela to use the established army rank structure. Perhaps these are the “military” personnel who have been used before to “disrupt” peaceful assemblies but who have been stamped with the respectability of Army ranks. Who knows?(Concerning the Rela Act and army ranks, the Retired Armed Forces Officers Association (RAFOC) were assured that the relevant schedule would be repealed once the election (GE13) was concluded, but no action has been taken. RAFOC approached Ahmad Zahid Hamidi before he left his post and reminded him of his reassurances that action would be taken, but to date there has been no information forthcoming from the current defence minister.)
Neither the PDRM nor the military can afford such bad publicity. Both of these institutions are grappling with their own internal problems concerning a whole range of issues that have brought them into public opprobrium. Many retired service personnel who support the establishment or the opposition are dismayed that these institutions are drawn into the games of the political forces of this country.
Deserving of a reprimand
To casually claim that the military would be used against dissenting citizens of this country is something that deserves a reprimand from the federal establishment if it is truly interested in the integrity of our security forces, not to mention the welfare of its citizens.
Silence merely confirms the decrepit state of our security apparatus, where anything goes as long as it serves the interest of a political party hell-bent on maintaining its hegemony. It is also further evidence of the racialist right wing strategy that in the long term will eventually destabilise the peace and security of this country.
I realise that these days any criticism of the public institutions of this country is spun as criticisms against a specific community. The least the PDRM or those who are in control of it could do is not drag other institutions into their messes. The fact that establishment forces are not cognisant of this is merely a reflection of the hubris that comes with uninterrupted rule.
S THAYAPARAN is Commander (rtd) in the Royal Malaysian Navy.
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