KUALA LUMPUR: Candidates have been warned not to use children at their campaign rallies.

Deputy Inspector-General of Police Datuk Ismail Omar said children should not be used for political gains.

“Children must not be exploited or taken advantage of,” said Ismail after a briefing on election preparation by the city police here yesterday.

Ismail said his men would be on the lookout for any exploitation of children during the elections.

He said police would not hesitate to use provisions under the Penal Code and Children’s Act against those found exploiting children for political gains.

Previously, several illegal rallies in the city organised by Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections (Bersih) and Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) saw children attending the street demonstrations.

Ismail also said that like previous years, policemen would be casting their votes through the post. On preparations by city police, Ismail said some 6,000 policemen would be deployed to cover all 12 parliamentary constituencies.

Earlier in Shah Alam, Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Musa Hassan, who attended a briefing by Selangor police chief Datuk Khalid Abu Bakar, said 7,849 policemen would be deployed for election duties in the state.

“They will be mobilised at nomination centres, polling stations and counting centres,” said Musa.

He said an additional 709 senior officers and 689 constables would help man police stations during the elections, adding that personnel from the Federal Reserve Unit, Public Order Riot Unit, crime intelligence unit and narcotics division would also be deployed.

He said police were also monitoring 40 “hot areas” in Selangor. He, however, declined to name the areas so as to enable the police to monitor them effectively.