IGP: We counted only 6k; Hisham flays Bersih
By Teoh El Sen, FMT
KUALA LUMPUR: The police claim that only 6,000 people took part in the Bersih 2.0 rally, a figure that was 44,000 less than the coalition’s estimate.
Media reports however placed the figure at somewhere between 10,000 and 15,000.
Speaking at a press conference at the Bukit Aman police headquarters here, Inspector-General of Police Ismail Omar denied reports that the protesters had gathered at various locations in the city.
According to him, the protesters had converged at only two places, opposite the Puduraya bus terminal and Stadium Merdeka.
He also said that the police had acted in a professional manner in handling the protest despite accusations that excessive force was used.
“In our attempts to disperse the crowds, the protesters pulled back and started moving towards Stadium Merdeka. However, we managed to foil all attempts to go through our barricades, which were very well managed,” he said.
Ismail said the protesters had tried to plough through police barricades, forcing his personnel to fire tear gas and their water cannons.
However, he stressed that these were done “minimally.”
Total arrests: 1,667
As at 5pm, the police had arrested 1,667 people, of which 151 were women and 16 below the age of 18.
“They are all being investigated for disturbing the peace and participating in an illegal gathering,” he said, adding that the detainees who were being held at the police training centre in Cheras would be released once investigations were completed.
He assured that those detained were in good health, given food and proper medical attention.
“They will be released on bail as soon as their statements are taken and those required for further investigations will be remanded,” he said.
Ismail said among the key figures arrested were Bersih 2.0 chairperson Ambiga Sreenevasan, Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin, PAS leaders Abdul Hadi Awang, Mohamed Sabu, Mahfuz Omar and Salahuddin Ayub, and PKR leaders Tian Chua and Fuziah Salleh.
Asked about allegations of highhandedness in the arrests, Ismail said there were groups who had provoked the police.
“If anyone is unhappy, then please lodge a report,” he said.
The police chief also revealed that most roadblocks in the city had been removed, saying that the inconvenience was unavoidable.
On reports of tear gas being fired into Hospital Tung Shin, Ismail said that was not the police standard operating procedure.
“We don’t fire into hospitals,” he said, adding that there were no reported injuries or deaths during the rally.
Hishammuddin flays Bersih, praises cops
In another development, Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein slammed the Bersih 2.0 movement for aiming to “destabilise” the country.
