Police deployed more than 3,900 officers at the ‘red shirt’ rally on September 16 at a cost of RM4.5 million. – The Malaysian Insider file pic, October 27, 2015.
Police spent nearly twice as much on security for the September 16 “red shirt” rally than on the Bersih 4 gathering a month earlier to maintain law and order, the home minister said today.
Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said police also deployed nearly twice as many personnel for the “red shirt” rally, also known as Himpuan Rakyat Bersatu, than for Bersih 4, despite the latter being a 34-hour rally.
Police deployed 3,911 officers at the “red shirt” rally, while 2,610 police officers patrolled Bersih 4.
“For the Bersih 4 gathering, police deployed 191 officers and 2,419 officers of various ranks to patrol the entire two-day gathering. The overall cost was RM2.74 million.
“For the September 16 Himpunan Rakyat Bersatu rally, 263 officers were deployed, while another 3,648 officers of various ranks were directly involved to control the gathering and the overall cost was RM4.5 million,” Zahid told Anthony Loke (DAP-Seremban) in a written parliamentary reply.
Loke had asked for the total number of police personnel and cost on both rallies.
Organised by electoral reform group Bersih 2.0, the Bersih 4 rally was held from August 29 to 30 to press for institutional reforms and to pressure Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak to resign over alleged financial scandals.
Three weeks later, the “red shirt” rally was held to counter Bersih 4 and to express anger over footage which showed Bersih 4 participants stomping on pictures of Najib and PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang.
Organisers claimed that Bersih 4had insulted the Malays.
- TMI
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