Why are public fears about military deployment during MCO unfounded?

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Public Fears About Military Deployment During MCO Are Unfounded Due to Legal and Operational Limitations

Public apprehension regarding the Malaysian Armed Forces' (MAF) deployment during the Movement Control Order (MCO) is largely unfounded because their powers are legally restricted and their role is supplementary to law enforcement. The MAF's presence is authorised under Section 5 of the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act of 1988, which does not grant them powers beyond those of a citizen's arrest. Crucially, the MAF lacks the authority for arrest or the use of necessary force under the Police Act of 1967, and these enhanced powers, available under the National Security Council (NSC) Act of 2016, are only applicable within gazetted security areas, a designation not invoked for the MCO deployment.
Legal Framework Restricts MAF Enforcement Powers

The legal basis for MAF deployment during the MCO, as outlined by the Defence Minister, stems from the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act of 1988. This framework does not empower soldiers with arrest capabilities or the authority to use force, as these powers are exclusively vested with the police under the Police Act of 1967. For MAF members to possess such enforcement rights, the government would need to invoke Sections 22 to 36 of the National Security Council (NSC) Act of 2016 and officially gazette specific areas as security zones. As this step has not been taken, MAF personnel are limited to exercising the powers of a private citizen making a lawful arrest.
MAF's Role is Secondary and Supportive

The deployment of the MAF in domestic emergencies constitutes a secondary function, with their primary mandate being national defence. This supporting role has been demonstrated in past instances, such as the deployment of the Royal Army Engineers Regiment for decontamination efforts in Pasir Gudang following the Sungai Kim Kim incident. During the MCO, the MAF's involvement is intended to bolster manpower for essential tasks like checkpoint manning and patrols, thereby easing the burden on police officers who retain the primary responsibility for more significant enforcement actions.
Historical Precedent Supports MAF's Emergency Support Functions

The MAF has a history of contributing to civilian authorities during various domestic emergencies, underscoring that their involvement in non-combat situations is not unprecedented. These deployments, while secondary to their core defence responsibilities, highlight their capacity to provide essential support during national crises. The current MCO deployment aligns with this established practice, focusing on augmenting resources for visible presence and logistical support, rather than independent enforcement operations.
Concerns About Authoritarianism Are Not Supported by Current Deployment

The fear that the MAF's presence during a peacetime emergency signals a slide towards authoritarianism is not substantiated by the legal and operational parameters of the current deployment. The limited powers afforded to MAF members during the MCO, restricted to citizen's arrest, and their supportive role alongside the police, do not indicate an expansion of military authority into civilian policing. This deployment is a measure to manage resources during an unprecedented public health crisis, not a shift in governance structures.

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Why are public fears about military deployment during MCO unfounded?

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