Liow blames Tung Shin for tear gas denial

By Melissa Chi

October 05, 2011

Liow said his initial response was based on the account prepared by Tung Shin’s administrators. — File pic

PETALING JAYA, Oct 5 — Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai today blamed Tung Shin Hospital for his reported denial that tear gas was fired into its compound during the July 9 Bersih rally, saying that the account by the administrators previously said the attacks did not take place.

“Earlier I relate to the report from Tung Shin and the report said the canisters were not shot into Tung Shin Hospital,” he told reporters after launching the Sunfert IVF Centre in Sunway Medical Centre.

“What denial? There was no denial. I don’t think there was any denial at all.”

The health minister also explained that tear gas canisters that were aimed towards the hospital did not enter any of the buildings but had only made it as far as the car park.

“The true picture revealed that canisters didn’t enter the hospitals but at the car park, water cannon yes, at the open car park,” said Liow.

“There were gas bombs at the Chinese Maternity Hospital (open car park) as well,”

He explained that there had been confusion over the tactics used by the police on July 9, saying that riot officers had deployed an array of tear gas canisters, water cannons, and gas bombs.

Police previously absolved themselves of any wrongdoing during the July 9 rally, after setting up six internal teams to investigate claims of police brutality that followed after nearly 1,700 were arrested, scores injured and an ex-soldier died during chaotic scenes in the capital.

But Liow ordered a second probe into the Tung Shin incident on July 14 after a group of medical consultants had written to the media disputing statements by the hospital board and the police who both claimed that no tear gas or water cannon were fired into the hospital compound.

Putrajaya admitted last night that riot police had crossed guidelines when they chased after marchers into Tung Shin Hospital grounds here on July 9.

Home Ministry Secretary-General Tan Sri Mahmood Adam said last night that errant policemen who attacked marchers near the hospital during the rally would be referred to the police’s disciplinary board.

Putrajaya and the police had earlier denied any wrongdoing despite proof to the contrary as provided by Bersih and those at the rally.

Tung Shin Hospital in Jalan Pudu was one of the rally points for thousands of Bersih supporters and bore testimony of the harsh measures taken to disperse the crowds when police officers in full riot gear shot tear gas and chemical-laced water cannons at its compound.

Liow previously denied the police had shot into the hospital compounds, claiming instead that the wind had blown the tear gas towards the vicinity.

He also said that shots from the water cannons had only brushed the edges of the hospital walls.