Tear gas used not harmful to humans, says weapons dept

The Star 

PETALING JAYA: The police have defended their use of tear gas during the Bersih 3.0 rally, saying it was not harmful to humans.

The force's Logistics Department (Weaponry) assistant chief director ACP Syed Mustafa Raja Syed Nordin, in a five-minute-video clip posted on the Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM) Facebook page yesterday, said the gas used to disperse protesters was “safe” and “complied with international standards”.

In the video, ACP Syed Mustafa showed four different irritants used during the April 28 rally tear gas grenades, tear gas canisters, liquid eye irritants and pepper spray.

“All these are imported from the United States, Canada and Switzerland.

“Each complies with international standards set by the United Nations,” said Syed Mustafa.

“These items contain CS Gas', which the UN has approved as a riot control agent.

“Many countries generally endorse this gas as non-lethal,” he explained.

He also said the Federal Reserve Unit was frequently exposed to CG Gas during training and that so far, none of its personnel had been injured.

“The CS gas is also not banned under the Chemical Weapons Convention 1993.

“Malaysia is one of the countries that has ratified this convention.

“I would like to stress that if PDRM had used forbidden items, the import of these items into our country would not have been allowed,” he added.