Police say only fired tear gas, water cannons ‘nearby’ Tung Shin Hospital

Bersih protesters flee police tear gas and water cannon into the Tung Shin Hospital. — Picture by Jack Ooi

KUALA LUMPUR, July 21 — Police admitted Tung Shin hospital was hit with tear gas canisters and water cannon during the Bersih rally, but denied shooting directly into the compound.


Internal security and public order director Datuk Salleh Mat Rashid said today that shots were only fired “nearby” the hospital compound on July 9, and speculated that the wind caused by the rain probably caused the tear gas and water cannon to enter the hospital compound.

However this statement flies in the face of various video clips uploaded on the YouTube video-sharing site showing water cannons and tear gas fired into the hospital.

Federal Reserve Unit shooting tear gas during the Bersih rally on July 9, 2011. At least nine shots were heard in the video ... — Video uploaded by SalhanKatana on Jul 10, 2011

“In the event involving the Tung Shin hospital, it cannot be denied that water cannons were sprayed at the alley entrance to Tung Shin Hospital but tear gas was only fired nearby, not directly.

“What happend in Tung Shin Hospital, claims that police used tear gas and water cannons cannot be denied, but it could be caused by the wind,” he told a press conference here.

Salleh stressed that investigations were still ongoing and assured that immediate action would be taken against any police officer found to have shot tear gas to the hospital compound.

Fru spray chemical water canon in to tung shin hospital during bersih 2.0 — Video uploaded by hauyoung on Jul 11, 2011

The Health Ministry had ordered an investigation on July 14 after 11 medical specialists wrote to the media, refuting the hospital board and police’s claims that no gas canisters or water cannon were fired directly into the hospital compound.

Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai had initially agreed with the city hospital, but then ordered the probe stating that patient security and hospital safety was paramount.

City police also announced on July 16 that it was looking into the incident which occurred as tens of thousands poured into the streets of the capital, resulting in the death of a protestor, scores injured, and nearly 1,700 arrests.

Police have also been accused of excessive force in crowd dispersal during the rally calling for free and fair elections. Bersih estimated some 50,000 people turned up but police said only 6,000 were there despite a security clampdown in the capital city.