The New Straits Times (Used by permission)
LANGKAWI:
Police have rubbished claims that they or the Federal Reserve Unit had
used tear gas canisters, similar to the ones used by the Israelis
against Palestinians, to disperse the crowd during the July 9 Bersih 2.0
rally.
Deputy
Inspector-General of Police Datuk Seri Khalid Abu Bakar said the claims
were false and made by irresponsible quarters who were trying to
tarnish the image of the police.
The
allegations were reported on Keadilan daily website. It said the type
of canisters used were similar to those supplied by Combined Systems to
the Israeli force which contained chemicals that could affect the
nervous system, lungs and cause skin disease.
"Please get your facts straight.
"Stop
making up stories ... this will make things worse," he said after a
friendly rugby match between the Royal Malaysian Police and the Thai
police force at the Langkawi sports complex here yesterday.
Khalid said the situation had cooled now, but if such allegations were to continue, it would escalate into something bigger.
"Let police do their job. We will investigate the allegations."
Bernama
reported that a retired FRU commander had allegedly said that if police
had indeed used excessive force against the demonstrators, hundreds of
them would have sought medical treatment or been hospitalised.
Sulaiman
Menga Dib said FRU personnel were trained to use minimal force when
dispersing demonstrators as provided for under the law, and observed
standard operating procedures.
He
said all police personnel were strictly required to obey orders which
were minuted, including the alleged indiscriminate firing of tear gas
canisters.
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