IGP shocked SB personnel barred from Warisan's media conferences

Inspector-General of Police Abdul Hamid Bador is shocked that Special Branch personnel have been barred from Warisan press conferences in Sabah.

"The police officers, who were there on duty, are not enemies of any party.

"The objective of their duties, whether they are clad in a uniform or in plainclothes, is to ensure the peace and security of a premises or event," he told Malaysiakini.

Yesterday, Free Malaysia Today reported Warisan vice-president Junz Wong as saying that his party has decided to bar SB personnel from sitting in on its press conferences.

"If they want to request for it, they should identify themselves and not pretend to be reporters," he said.

An SB officer was quoted as saying that his fellow police personnel had been blocked on a number of occasions from attending press conferences involving Warisan leaders, including Chief Minister Mohd Shafie Apdal.

"These SB officers must be seen and treated as friends of the public, unless they do something which is clearly against the law," said Hamid, who once led the SB.

Without pointing fingers, Hamid said there could have been a miscommunication between the SB and the event organisers.

SB personnel are usually in plainclothes, and are tasked with securing premises and neutralising threats before and during government functions involving high-ranking officials.

Hamid stressed that the police, in uniform or otherwise, could still be stationed at any event to maintain order.

"But if a political party holds a closed-door activity in its own premises, then there is no need for the police to be stationed there. It's a waste of time and energy," he said. - Mkini