Bersih wants Suhakam probe into police conduct
(The Malaysian Insider) – KUALA LUMPUR, July 10 — Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan has urged the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) to investigate the alleged use of excessive force by police against Bersih protesters yesterday.
“What took place yesterday should not have happened,” she said after visiting the family of Baharudin Ahmad, who died yesterday after collapsing during the rally.
“I have already spoken to Suhakam and they will take further action.”
PAS deputy president Mohamad Sabu said he too is considering taking legal action against the police for allegedly knocking him over while riding pillion on a motorcycle headed towards Masjid Negara yesterday.
He reportedly sustained injuries to a ligament in his right knee during the incident and was seen sitting on a wheelchair at Baharudin’s home here earlier.
“The police acted brutally by hitting, kicking (protesters) to the point where one was suffocated to death from the tear gas. This shows the Third World standard of our police,” he said in reference to Baharudin’s death.
Mohamad, better known as Mat Sabu, said the chaos seen yesterday could have been avoided if the police had given protesters “two or three hours” to disperse.
“This… shows that the Najib administration is primitive and uncivilised,” he said.
