OF late, there has been considerable apprehension amo-ng the public on the role of the armed forces, especially after the recent announcement by Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Musa Hassan on conducting joint police-military exercise in maintaining public order.

It’s not so much the announcement, as the timing of it that raised eyebrows, given the present volatile political situation in the country.

In normal circumstances, no one would bat an eyelid, although such joint exercises have never been conducted before.

With the lingering memories of the May 13 riots, some have questioned the role of our military in unfavourable terms, often failing to mention the positive role it played in that tense and explosive situation in 1969.

The armed forces is the institution by which the government defends the state and its policies, which acts as a stabilising factor in the maintenance of law and order in the country.

A soldier’s foremost duty is of obedience to the orders of the government of the day, of whichever political party is in power. It’s for this reason that military personnel are required to abstain from taking active part in politics directly or indirectly. This restriction, however, does not bar them from holding opinions on matters that concern them as citizens.

It did not help the image of the armed forces many years ago when one outgoing air force chief tried to score some brownie points by saying that those who wore the uniform, by right, should vote for the incumbent government.

Given the present political situation, I believe we have more than enough men in blue to handle any public-order situation without ever thinking of involving the military. When the rule of the ballot box works smoothly, there is no role for the military in the streets.

LT COL (R) MOHD IDRIS HASSAN, Kuala Lumpur

Source: NST – August 5, 2008