A group of about 50 people gathered at the police headquarters in Bukit Aman, Kuala Lumpur in solidarity with the family of the late Baharudin Ahmad as they handed over a memorandum of protest to the Inspector General of Police.
Still upset by what he perceives as churlish behavior by the police, Baharuddin's elder brother, Major (R) Kassim lambasted the cops, holding them accountable for his brother's death. He accused the police of behaving like the "Israeli army towards the Palestinainas".
Finally, after a waiting for a while, the family's 5-point memo was received by ACP Ramli Yusoff.
"No assurances of investigation from the police except that they will convey to the higher officers. We have no hope that the police will properly investigate and will organize more public pressure functions including demonstartions to force the authorities to put up a credible probe," N Surendran, the PKR vice president, told Malaysia Chronicle.
An announcement by the police denying any involvement in Baharudin's death has sparked further anger as it had not even conducted any probe before making the denial.
Suffocated and beaten
The 59-year old Baharuddin was among those who had marched in the July 9 Bersih for free and fair elections.
He was in the Jalan Ampang area when the police fired tear gas into the crowd to disperse them. According to two reliable eyewitnesses, there were repeated attempts to get two police officers who had been on the spot to help, but they refused.
It is believed that Baharudin died from tear gas suffocation and also suffered severe beatings by the police. A post-mortem has been conducted and several broken ribs, a lost tooth and cuts were detected.
Apology is the least the police can do
Apart from the family, PKR leaders including Surendran, Subang MP Sivarasa Rasiah, Lawyers for Liberty reps Eric Paulsen and Renuka T Bala, NGO WargaAMAN Rajaretinam and Youth for Change rep Lee Khai Loon were also prsesent.
Baharudin is survived by his wife Rusni Melan, a PKR Women's leader, and children. At Bukit Aman this morning, his family members led by elder brother Major (R) Kassim Ahmad and son Azhar bin Kassim, presented the memo to the police.
The memo demanded that (1) all police officers including the top guns on duty at the area in which Baharuddin had died be suspended pending investigations; (2) a comprehensive probe without fear or favour be conducted immediately; (3) a full report be published and made available to the public; (4) action including prosecution against all those officers responsible, no matter how high their rank; (5) that the Inspector-General of Police immediately apologizes to Baharudin's family and all Malaysians for using "excessive" force towards the people.
- Malaysia Chronicle
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