What Happens When There Are No Riots or Rallies? Here’s What M’sians Might Not Know About the FRU

Many of us may not have heard of the FRU (Federal Reserve Unit) before the tragic accident that killed 9 FRU officers, but we have certainly seen them in public, and they are not new to the game.

In honour of the deceased FRU officers, here are some things you might not know about the brave officers who constantly risk their lives to keep the peace.

The unit was set up even before Merdeka

FRU, also known as the Pasukan Simpanan Persekutuan (PSP), was set up in December 1955, just about two years before our country gained independence. According to PDRM’s official website, in the 50s, the force did not have a proper team to handle riots, and during that time, riots happened a lot due to conflict between races.

The FRU also has a water cannon unit, a cavalry unit, and a training institution in Sungai Senam, Ipoh, Perak. A special platoon for women was also created, and this platoon is based at Units 1 & 4 in Cheras, Kuala Lumpur.

FRU now has seven troops across six states: Kuala Lumpur, Perak, Johor, Penang, Terengganu, and Seremban.

They have their own translators and diary keepers

Simply put, FRU is a team of riot police under the control of PDRM and the Ministry of Home Affairs.  Where there are riots or rallies, FRU officers will be deployed to maintain public order.  

FRU officers carry rifles, tear gas, shields, and they have designated drivers, photographers, translators, and diary keepers.

The FRU’s additional responsibilities

Riots and rallies don’t happen often, so what do they do at other times?

Commanding officers will task the officers to help the Chief of Police, State Police, and the Criminal Investigation Division and Special Branch in crime prevention efforts, such as patrolling areas with a high percentage of crimes, as well as assisting with:

• Evacuation of victims in disaster relief
• Setting up roadblocks and checkpoints
• Safeguarding VIPs at events and parades.

FRU’s notable past events

Throughout the decades, FRU has been deployed to many events that were deemed high profile by PDRM, including the riots that erupted during Anwar Ibrahim’s arrest in 1998. Here are some of the events where FRU helped maintain public order, where you may have encountered the troops personally.

• May 13 event, which killed over 160 (1969)
  • The riot was caused by racial tension, and attackers used machetes and Keris to slaughter victims. It didn’t take long for the riot to spread across Kuala Lumpur and Selangor, and FRU was deployed. Tear gas was used to control the riot, and a 24-hour curfew was set. 196 people died from the riot, and 149 were injured, as reported by Time Magazine.

• Anwar Ibrahim’s arrest (1998)
  • FRU was once again called to control the riot when Anwar Ibrahim, who was the Deputy Prime Minister back then, was jailed for allegations of corruption and homosexual practices, according to Suara Keadilan.

• Bersih (2007), Bersih 2.0 (2011), and Bersih 3.0 (2012) Rallies
  • Bersih rallies were held in Kuala Lumpur, where protestors expressed dissatisfaction toward the government and demanded a democratic, unbiased leadership. No deaths were reported in all rallies, but 245 people were arrested and released during the first Bersih rally. Tear gas canisters and tear gas grenades were used against the protestors during the rallies, according to The Edge Malaysia.

• Subang Jaya riot (2018)
  • The relocation of the Sri Maha Mariamman Temple in USJ25, Seafield, caused conflict between two groups. FRU were called to the scene during the two-day riot. During the riot, firefighter Mohd Abid died after succumbing to his injuries in December 2018, according to Berita Harian.

As for the recently deceased FRU officers, they were just headed home from the Wesak Day parade in Perak before the fatal crash.

We thank the authorities for carrying out their due diligence in maintaining public order, and we express our condolences to the grieving family members.

Rest in peace, soldiers.

Also read: FRU Truck Driver in Fatal Perak Crash Only Learned of Teammates’ Deaths Last Night, Says He Blames Himself