‘UNREST’ COULD OCCUR BEFORE OR AFTER GE14? AS RUMORS SWIRL, ARMY VETERANS WARN SECURITY FORCES TO STAY NEUTRAL – DON’T LET YOURSELVES BE USED BY RULING PARTIES

An army veteran has reminded the security forces to remain non-partisan during the 14th general elections, regardless of which party wins.

Retired brigadier-general Mohamed Arshad Raji in a statement today expressed concern over “rumour mongering about the possibility of an unrest should either political party wins or loses the election”.

“A number of possibilities and probabilities could occur prior to and post the election period…”

MEANWHILE, according to Malay Mail:

Remain non-partisan should government change hands, vets tell security forces

PETALING JAYA — The police and the Armed Forces must remain non-partisan and be subservient to only the Yang di-Pertuan Agong and the country throughout the upcoming general elections, security forces veterans’ group National Patriots Association said today.

Its president Brigadier-General (Rtd) Datuk Mohamed Arshad Raji said the forces must keep public order regardless of the outcome of the polls, especially during the time when a victor is yet to be announced.

“This is the time when the armed forces and the police must display its non-partisan role, and to maintain its integrity as a force that serves the King and country, and void of any political interest,” he said.

“Members of the armed forces and police must be able to distinguish what is a lawful order and what isn’t, especially at the critical moment when the election results are yet to be known, to formally decide which contending party forms the legitimate government.

Arshad also said the forces must gather early intelligence to quash or quell any parties who seek to take advantage of during the elections.

“Rumour mongering about the possibility of an unrest should either political party wins or loses the election must be suppress at the outset. It must not be allowed to fester and the authorities must come down hard against the perpetrators of such sinister plan to create fear and confusion.

“It is at this critical moment that public disorder could develop by those that are unhappy with the election results, and it is left entirely to the police, and assisted by the armed forces, to act within the bounds of the law to quell any dissenting action,” he said.

He also reminded the officers to take heed of the 1986 Philippines revolution which saw the armed forces and police standing by the public to ensure democracy prevailed.

“Patriot has full confidence that the armed forces and the police will play an effective role to enforce law and order, and the peaceful transition of power to which ever political party that wins the election.

“When the armed forces and the police adopt a partisan leaning and take instructions from politicians, then the nation is damned,” he said.

– M’kini /  Malay Mail