Tung Shin Hospital 'not hit' in rally crackdown

Health Minister Liow Tiong Lai has claimed that the police did not shoot tear gas and water cannon into the Tung Shin Hospital compound, in the crackdown on last Saturday's Bersih 2.0 rally.

He said he has confirmed with the hospital authorities that the claims circulating on the Internet are not true.

"The police shot the tear gas over the main road. Maybe the smoke was blown by the wind in this direction - that, we don't know, but they were not aiming at the hospital," he told reporters after meeting board members of the hospital this afternoon.

"As for the water cannon, they were shooting at 45 degrees onto the main road, maybe the edge of it may...(have spread to the hospital)."

Asked to comment on video footage and photos posted by netizens that appear to contradict the claim, Liow told reporters not to show photos or videos to counter his claims.

"The board of the hospital also confirmed this, (so) don't cite whatever pictures or videos again,” he said.

"The most important thing is that the person in charge of the hospital has confirmed that the police did not shoot the tear gas or water cannon into the hospital (compound).”

Hospital board head Ng Beh Tong, who was present, echoed the minister's statement.

He said the hospital administrator had briefed the board on the situation at a meeting this morning.

Liow and Ng also denied that the police came into the hospital compound to arrest the protesters, claiming the police “only brought in some injured demonstrators for medical treatment”.

Asked to comment on differing accounts by some journalists on the ground who had also witnessed the incident, Liow reacted angrily and said, “The board chairman has clarified this, but you still want to ask this question.”

“Anybody including the media, if you have any allegation, you can tell the Health Ministry or Home Ministry, and we will investigate it,” he said.

Liow blamed the opposition for bringing in politics to the hospital, which he labelled as an irresponsible act.

He also defended the police action by saying the latter was forced to use teargas and water cannon in order to disperse the “street demonstration”.

“Highligting that the police shot at the hospital is an uncalled-for action,” he said, adding that the reports in the past two days have been unfair to the Tung Shin hospital. - Malaysiakini