KUALA LUMPUR – As feared by many, the emergency declared on Tuesday will see the army given the power to arrest civilians.
Senior Minister (Defence) Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said the government's stand is that the army can detain anyone – Malaysians and foreigners – under the emergency ordinance.
Speaking to The Vibes late last night, Ismail Sabri said the army is empowered, just as the police is, to conduct arrests of civilians in defiance of the movement control order (MCO).
On whether the the army should only be allowed to conduct detentions at the border, Ismail Sabri said that, in an emergency, the powers of the army is extended.
"It can make arrests in cities and even conduct roadblocks," he said.
“It will have the power of the police under the Criminal Procedure Code.”
However, he emphasised that any operations in civilian areas will be conducted jointly with the police.
"We divide the tasks. The police in the towns and villages, and armed forces at the border," he said.
The Vibes was seeking clarification from Ismail Sabri over his statement made earlier yesterday evening in a media briefing – which was only attended by government official media – on the duties and roles of the army under the emergency.
He had said that, under the emergency ordinance, the armed forces will be given the power to make arrests and detain those who enter illegally through the country’s borders, similar to the police.
However, in an earlier Bernama report, it quoted Ismail Sabri as saying that the army will have the power to take action against any individual who flouts the MCO.
On Tuesday, Istana Negara had announced that Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah had consented to a nationwide emergency until August 1.
Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin had later the same day in a national address said among the ordinances that can be made during an emergency includes giving the army enforcement powers similar to that of the police and Immigration Department. – The Vibes, January 15, 2021
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