TMI: Bersih 3.0: Public order and preservation — by Maj (Rtd) Lee Kong Kok

Bersih 3.0: Public order and preservation — Maj (Rtd) Lee Kong Kok

May 02, 2012

MAY 2 — I was prompted to write this article after being on the ground and reading the many reports of how a carnival-like rally turned so ugly. 

I’m a retired Army officer having served 27 years. A day before Bersih 3.0, I e-mailed my ‘squad mates’ that I would be participating in the rally and cheekily ended by saying I planned to see first-hand POPO (Public Order and Preservation Ordnance) in action. The Army has an obligation to assist the Police under POPO should they ask the Army to step in. Hence, during my time, we spend a great deal of time practising POPO drills and I was deployed on two occasions on such duties.

I can re-collect vividly some of the key principles of POPO (I may have missed out a few):

1.    Minimum Force. Simply put, you don’t use a sledgehammer to kill a fly;

2.    Warnings. Give ample three warnings to the crowd to disperse otherwise force will be taken;

3.    Identify the ringleaders. We go after the ringleaders to restore public order;

4.    Dispersal avenue. Ensure the incident location has avenues for the protesters to disperse;

5.    Render Assistance. Assistance is to be given to the injured when the situation permits;

6.    Unity in purpose. The platoon commander (lieutenant in rank) of 30-odd soldiers makes the hard decision on the ground and ensures his platoon stays intact at all times.

If one analyses the basis of the above principles one can see the human heart of the POPO authors and at the same time, the goal of achieving the mission at hand. The Army or PDRM are there to protect the people and the nation and to be loyal to King and country. These two are noble organisations, We, Army guys, in peacetime train for war and in war we fight. We are always grateful for the hard training we undergo for it has borne us well during live operations.

From the events of Bersih 3.0, the question here that I would like to ask the IGP and powers-that-be:

Are we still talking about the same POPO principles or has the PDRM formulated a new set of POPO principles (and so devoid of the human heart)?

It is my wish that any public inquiries will be guided somewhat by the POPO principles. Let us bring back some good governance.

* This is the personal opinion of the writer and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insider.