Police identify 20 ‘hot and sensitive’ seats

Zulkifli (third from right) greets personnel set to be deployed for the election following yesterday’s briefing.

KUCHING: Police will be paying extra attention to about 20 constituencies during the campaigning period of the 11th state election as they are ‘hot and sensitive’.

The state polls will see 82 seats up for grabs, 11 more than the last election in 2011 following the Election Commission’s delineation exercise.

Federal Management Department director Dato Sri Zulkifli Abdullah, however, said voters should not associate the situation in these hot seats with the heated atmosphere in the peninsula.

“We consider these 20 seats as ‘panas’ (hot) but not ‘panas’ in the national context, where unsavoury occurrences can happen. When we classify them as sensitive, it doesn’t mean it is because we fear something bad will happen. We are just paying more attention to them compared to the other seats,” said Zulkifli, who declined to name the 20 hot seats.

He also disclosed that personnel from the CID and other relevant departments would be taking pre-emptive measures to ensure ‘naughty’ characters would not able to cause problems during the election.

“We will identify and approach these naughty people who can potentially disrupt or threaten peace and advise them to stay out of trouble.”

Speaking to reporters after presenting an election briefing to some 1,600 personnel at the Police Training Centre at Jalan Puncak Borneo here yesterday, Zulkifli also revealed that police had spent nearly RM4 million on logistics support.

He said the money was used to hire boats, four-wheel drive (4WD) vehicles and other facilities to ensure police personnel were able to be stationed at all polling centres.

“This is also to ensure we can respond quickly in the event something untoward occurs.”

Zulkifli went on to remind all candidates and their supporters to be on their best behaviours and to cooperate with the police.

“I also wish to remind all candidates that once the campaign period begins, those wishing to hold ‘ceramahs’ (talks) must apply for permits as stated under the Election Act.

“During ceramahs, please avoid directing the speakers towards your rivals because that could potentially spark a riot.”

Zulkifli, however, expressed his confidence that nothing untoward would happen as past state elections were held in a happy and peaceful atmosphere.

When asked on the number of police personnel involved in casting their votes, he said there were about 9,000 eligible police voters who will be voting by post or involved in early voting.

“It is our responsibility to vote, and we will make sure members of the force have the opportunity to cast their vote.”

 

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