KUALA LUMPUR, June 21 — The police are calling in the cavalry for tomorrow’s “Black 505” rally at Padang Merbok here, saying they will seek military reinforcement in the event of chaos at the gathering to protest alleged electoral fraud during Election 2013.

But it is unclear what authority the Armed Forces will have over a civilian population outside of a declared emergency.

In November 2011, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak tabled the repeal of three emergency proclamations: the 1966 Emergency proclamation in Sarawak; the May 13, 1969 Emergency proclamation; and the 1977 Kelantan Emergency proclamation.

Yesterday, Internal Security and Public Order director Datuk Seri Salleh Mat Rasid was reported by news outlets as saying that the police (PDRM) have taken appropriate steps to ensure order during tomorrow’s rally, but have tapped the Armed Forces as a contingency.

“For now, PDRM is still capable of maintaining peace. (But) we are in regular contact with the military and, if need be, will ask for their deployment to help,” Salleh told reporters at a press conference in Ipoh yesterday.

The federal opposition Pakatan Rakyat (PR) plans to hold a mammoth “Black 505” rally at Padang Merbok tomorrow, and has ploughed through the obstacles put in its path by the authorities.

It had initially sought to hold the gathering at Dataran Merdeka but later shifted this to Padang Merbok instead. The custodian for both venues, Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL), continues to refuse to allow the rally to be held at either location, parroting the official line that closed arenas such as Stadium Merdeka were a better choice.

The rally was also originally planned for June 15, but was postponed owing to resistance from the police and DBKL.

But PR remains adamant on Padang Merbok. Yesterday’s cancellation of the Olympic Day Run, previously cited as a reason why permission to use the field was being withheld, will also appear to strengthen its case.

“Black 505” rallies have been organised throughout the country, beginning with the first in Stadium Kelana Jaya in Petaling Jaya on May 8, to demand the resignation of the Election Commission (EC) over alleged widespread fraud during the 13th general election.

The ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) managed to retain power in the election despite polling fewer votes than the loose PR opposition pact.