Armed Forces chief: The virus is the enemy, not people

Armed Forces chief Gen Affendi Buang today said not all army personnel deployed during the movement control order period would be armed. 

Some would be with weapons for self-defence purposes during roadblocks, he said.

Affendi was asked to comment on certain quarters who questioned the presence of gun-toting soldiers on the streets.

"We carry a weapon for self-defence. If there were five of us, only one carries the weapon.

"Like I stressed (in an interview) yesterday, the people are not our enemy.

"We are just monitoring. Our enemy is the coronavirus," he said.

At the Brickfields district police headquarters earlier, Affendi and Inspector-General of Police Abdul Hamid Bador (photo) inspected drones which would be used in 12 hotspot areas across the country.

While Affendi did not mention the 12 hotspots, the Health Ministry had recently listed areas with Covid-19 cases which include Petaling Jaya (96 cases), Lembah Pantai (90), Hulu Langat (75), and Johor Baru (52).

Affendi aksi said it was unfair for netizens to label the army as using force and power during the order.

"So far, I am satisfied with my men. They carried out their duties as entrusted.

"In social media, there are those who said we use force and power, I think that's unfair.

"Our presence is to save people. We are in the state where if we don't do anything now, (our situation) will become like Europe," he said.

Meanwhile, the police and army demonstrated the use of drones to Affendi and Abdul Hamid. The drones can blast a message to people to stay home via loudspeakers.

The messages are available in Bahasa Malaysia, Mandarin, and Tamil.

"The most important thing is we can do coverage from the air quickly.

"Then, the drones also act as a deterrent, and will enter areas where the surveillance team cannot go," the army chief said.

Affendi added that the drones will also be used in Kuala Lumpur where there are stubborn people who still go out despite the order to stay at home.

The movement control order was implemented from March 18 until March 31 to flatten the Covid-19 curve.

Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin yesterday said the government will review whether it should extend the order period.

As of today, the Covid-19 death toll is at 15. - Mkini