Bersih 4.0: Armed Forces ready to be deployed

The Malaysian Armed Forces will be deployed if the government declared a state of emergency following the Bersih 4.0 rally scheduled for this weekend.

Its chief, Gen Tan Sri Zulkifeli Mohd Zin said, the Armed Forces are always prepared, trained and efficient in case it is needed to ensure public order.

“The Malaysian Armed Forces will only intervene when the government officially declares a state of emergency.

“If the situation is categorised as a threat to the public, we will take over the role of the police in containing the situation,” he told reporters after a Defence Ministry event here today.

Zulkifeli said, the Armed Forces would always take preventive measures and ensure its personnel are always prepared to face any situation deemed as a threat to national security.

“We will take certain steps should the rally (Bersih 4.0) turn chaotic.

“For example the Thailand bombing incident recently, people had panicked there were those who took advantage of the situation,” he said.

Zulkifeli also confirmed that no Armed Forces personnel have been assigned specifically for the rally which is scheduled to take place this weekend.

BERSIH 4.0 will be held in three large cities for 34 hours beginning on Saturday namely Kuala Lumpur, Kota Kinabalu and Kuching.