The Star: February 14, 2008PETALING JAYA: A total of 210 members of the United Nations (UN) peacekeeping force from the Malaysian police are scheduled to cast their postal votes in the general election.
From the total number, 194 are involved in peacekeeping activities under the UN Integrated Mission in Timor Leste (UNMIT) and 16 others in Sudan.
“The 210 members including officers will vote via post,” said deputy director of management Senior Asst Comm (I) Zaleha Abdul Rahman after sending off the sixth batch of peacekeepers comprising 34 members including 19 officers led by Deputy Supt Saiful Bahri Abdullahat the KL International Airport yesterday.
The 34-member team will join 169 other Malaysian policemen and officers who are on duty in the country which has been plagued with sporadic rebel insurgencies and assassination attempts against President Jose Ramos-Horta and Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao in their efforts to overthrow the government.
SAC Zaleha said the team would also be responsible in training Timor Leste police on maintaining peace, crowd control and human rights issues.
She called on the team to maintain a high level of discipline and not to tarnish the name and image of the Malaysian police force, adding that Malaysia had sent six missions to the troubled country since May 2006.