Respected individuals to lead probe team
The prime minister says the independent panel will be formed as early as next week to investigate alleged police attacks on the media.
(Free Malaysia Today) – Credible, experienced, and respected individuals will be members of an independent panel that will probe into alleged police violence against journalists at Saturday’s Bersih 3.0 rally, Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak said today.
He added that the panel will be formed as early as next week after the Cabinet approved the move at its meeting yesterday.
Najib was speaking at a press conference after meeting with representatives of GLC (government-linked companies) here.
Yesterday, Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein said the government has no objection at all in forming an independent panel to investigate the alleged incidents.
But opposition leaders were quick to question the move, saying the sincerity of the decision was suspect following the police’s lack of urgency in taking action despite numerous incriminating evidence surfacing on the Internet.
Observers at the rally, including the Bar Council, said police aggression was worse than the previous Bersih 2.0 rally.
Many videos had surfaced on the Internet showing police officers assaulting unarmed protesters including reporters and cameramen.
One of the reporters was badly wounded and hospitalised. Najib himself visited the journalist and apologised for the incident, saying “no stone will be left unturned” in his vow to launch a probe.
The media today launched a “black day” campaign with journalists clad in black to protest against the alleged harsh police treatment of the press.
A mini demonstration was also held to demand assurance from the government that the press would be protected from harm while on duty in the future.
Police fired tear gas and water cannon after some demonstrators breached the barricades in front of Dataran Merdeka, which the court had barred the public from entering.
In the ensuing fracas, scores were injured including two police officers.
Najib blames organisers
Both rally organisers and the authorities blamed each other for the clash. Bersih 3.0 leaders said the violence was prompted by the police while the government maintained that the men in blue had acted in self-defence after the crowd turned unruly.
