Hisham denies police brutality, warns media

Faced with numerous allegations of brutality during Saturday's Bersih 2.0 rally, the police will release visual recordings to refute these, said the home minister.

Hishammuddin Hussein further warned that action would be taken against those in the media who have made 'baseless claims'.

"We have visual recordings in our operation room. Whatever has been alleged will be investigated with concrete evidence, and action will be taken against those in the Internet and foreign media who have made baseless allegations," he told a press conference at the Bukit Aman federal police headquarters today.

He did not reveal when the recordings would be made public.

He said the police will cooperate with the Attorney-General's Chambers and Malaysian Communication and Multimedia Commission to investigate untrue allegations against the police, and pursue action accordingly.

Hishammuddin told the press - especially the foreign media, which he said has been sensationalising the issue - to come up with a satisfactory explanation when the visual recordings prove that their reports were inaccurate.

However, when asked specifically if he was denying allegations that the police had used excessive force during the rally, Hishammuddin disagreed.

"I'm not denying, I'm just saying that we have enough proof for the public to judge later. I'm just expecting the media to be fair in reporting it. Pictures can be selective but we have the whole footage and the police are going to reveal. We've got nothing to hide," he answered.

However, he plegded to take action against police personnel if they are proved to have used excessive force.

On claims that riot police had fired tear gas and water cannon into the compound of the Tung Shin Hospital in Jalan Pudu, Hishammuddin declined to confirm this had happened.

"We have certain footage. If what had been alleged and reported (is not proved), those who reported it will also be brought to justice,” he said.

When journalists pointed out that the police had denied the allegation despite photographs and video footage on the Internet showing the opposite, Hishammuddin made a U-turn on behalf of the police, saying: "The police have not denied it, in one way or the other".

"Like I said just now, we have visuals, we have recordings. These recordings and visuals, from beginning to end, are being analysed and will be focused on very specific issues that have been labelled at the police and the government."

Over the past two days, both the Inspector-General of Police Ismail Omar (left) and Kuala Lumpur acting police chief Amar Singh had dismissed claims that police had fired tear gas into the hospital compound.

Their statements have irked many protesters and netizens who had uploaded photographic and video evidence on the Internet to refute the top cops.

‘Not apologetic at all’

On the claim that Baharuddin Ahmad - who died after being arrested by the police during the rally - had been denied medical access while under detention, Hishammuddin gave the same answer.

"Like I said, we have the visuals. Let us identify all these allegations and we'll answer them without fear or favour."

Hishammuddin was at Bukit Aman to visit and commend the police for their successful operation on Saturday.

"If not for proactive action by the police, what we faced on July 9 might have been even worse."

He was unperturbed by the opposition's threat to sue the police for use of excessive force.

"I welcome (this) because I'm not worried. The police discharged their duty with full discipline during a situation where they were provoked... I'm not apologetic at all," he said firmly.

Hishammuddin reiterated that the visual recordings he had watched, clearly showed that the number of protesters was nowhere near 10,000.

Bersih 2.0 had claimed that 50,000 had turned up for the rally while police had estimated the number at 5,000-6,000.


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