Student: I was beaten up while helping friend

The student who was allegedly assaulted by police during the scuffle at Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI) yesterday morning claimed he was assisting a friend when he received a blow on the lip.

Discharged from the Slim River Hospital today, Muhammad Safwan Anang, 23 (left), said that he was assaulted while helping a friend who was being "dragged by the police".

"I was not fighting the police. I was helping a friend who was being dragged by the police," he told a press conference today.

Appearing weak as his wife Masturah Abu Bakar brought him out on a wheelchair, the Universiti Malaya student claimed he was punched once in the face and then "walloped" and kneed in the ribs by police during the early morning fracas.

The Gerakan Menuntut Kebebasan Akademik (Bebas) chairperson, who was discharged upon the doctor's instruction, also complained of difficulty in breathing.

Seeking further treatment elsewhere

He collapsed and started convulsing into fits during the melee. Footages of the incident show him bleeding from the mouth.

Other students damaged the door of a nearby clinic in a frantic attempt to help him seek treatment. They later rushed him to the hospital on the advice of the clinic staff.

X-rays performed by the Slim River Hospital showed no broken ribs.

“I will be seeking further treatment in another hospital,” he said in a hushed voice when reporters caught up with him as he was leaving the hospital.

Muhammad Safwan also confirmed that police yesterday wanted him to sign a document stating that he had sustained the injuries from a fall.

“Yes, that was the earliest interaction I had with police (since the incident). Four or five people claiming to be police came, but did not show their identification.

“They asked me to sign a form stating that I had fallen. I tore the document and did not sign it,” he said, adding that hospital authorities had allowed the men to take photographs of him.

He added that he would lodge a police report on the incident soon, and would also take legal action.