POLICE has identified 1,100 individuals as troublemakers who will cause problems in the 14th general election, The Star reported.

Inspector-General of Police Mohamad Fuzi Harun said Bukit Aman had compiled a list and will keep an eye on them.

“Those on the list can cause situations that might jeopardise public safety through various means, including spreading fake news on the Internet.

“The fake news that might be spread (during the elections) range from the existence of phantom voters to supposed attacks by the Islamic State (IS) terror group.

“We will monitor them and take action if they spark trouble,” he told a press conference after launching a meeting of state police chiefs, commissioners and commandants at the Royal Malaysian Police College yesterday.

The list was compiled after detailed analysis and looking into the track records of the individuals, Fuzi added.

“We are monitoring them and the list is on standby in case they cause trouble or drop so-called last minute bombshells,” he said in response to Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s statement that police will take action against these potential troublemakers, who might drop sensational “bombshells” in the guise of news.

On Monday, Zahid said there were fake news that 40,000 Bangladeshi nationals were flown into Malaysia to become phantom voters during the 2013 general election.

Police said there are two types of troublemakers, those who incite others on social media and those who cause violence at various places during nomination and polling.

The police also identified 116 hotspots in the Peninsular Malaysia and 33 in Sabah and Sarawak, where heated battles are expected to take place, that was determined by the election mood and sentiments of the voters.

“We are keeping a close eye on the matter and Bukit Aman Cantas unit has been tasked with taking action against the troublemakers. We are heeding the call by the deputy prime minister of not using force. We will only do so if absolutely necessary.

“We will deploy sufficient manpower to ensure that the general election runs smoothly without any threat to public safety,” he said. – March 23, 2018.