Malaysia police to ask army to keep order if needed

KUALA LUMPUR, July 3 (Reuters) - Malaysian police will ask the army to help keep civil order if the country's security is at risk, the federal police chief said after launching the first police-military exercise in the city.

The six-day drill, which ends on July 7, is being held in the wake of a series of street demonstrations held in the capital over the past year, police chief Musa Hassan was quoted by the New Straits Times as saying.

"It is crucial, and the right time, for the (two forces) to organise and plan strategies to carry out duties in maintaining public order," Musa said.

Asked if this meant the army would be deployed to quell street protests, Musa told reporters this would only be so if absolutely necessary and an emergency had to be declared. Malaysia, rocked by a series of anti-government protests since late last year, is bracing for a mammoth opposition-led rally on Sunday against fuel price hikes.

Last November, more than 10,000 ethnic Indians marched in the capital to complain about racial discrimination. Police used tear gaz, water cannons and batons to break it up.

Malaysia's armed forces chief Abdul Aziz Zainal defended the need to organise police-military exercises. "Without such exercises, there will be no coordination when a real threat arises.". (Reporting by Jalil Hamid, Editing by Bill Tarrant)