IGP: Police staying out of Penang's Merdeka Day celebrations

KUALA LUMPUR: The police has decided not to participate in Penang's state-level Merdeka Day celebration activities.

Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar (pic) said on Monday that the decision was made as its theme of 'Bersih, Cekap dan Amanah' (Clean, Efficient and Trustworthy) chosen by the Penang government for the state was not in line with the spirit of the 2015 Merdeka Day celebrations.

"As long as Penang wants to use its own theme, the police will not take part in its 2015 Merdeka Day celebrations," he told Bernama.

However, he said, the police would only participate if the state government was using the 2015 Merdeka Day theme of 'Sehati, Sejiwa' (One Heart, One Soul).

On Sunday, the Malaysian Armed Forces (ATM) decided not to participate in any Penang state-level Merdeka Day celebration activities.

Subsequently, the Penang Education Department had directed all schools in the state not to take part in any Merdeka Day celebrations and parade organised by the state government until they received further instructions from the Education Ministry. - Bernama