The police have asserted that the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 (Sosma) will not be abused in the 13th general election.

Inspector-general of police secretariat assistant head (public relations) ACP Ramli Mohamed Yoosuf said the new act would be used against those who threaten national security during the campaign period.

"Sosma will be applied when necessary to ensure a smooth election and the police will carry out their responsibility to ensure that the democratic process is not disrupted," he told reporters at the 13th general election briefing in Kuala Lumpur today.

He was commenting on PKR vice-president R Sivarasa's apprehension that the police might abuse the new law on offences deemed detrimental to parliamentary democracy during the polls.

Ramli said Sosma would only be used when security and public order were threatened, otherwise the police would investigate all cases during the polls under the Penal Code.

- Bernama