'Cops have proof that elements wanted deaths'

Deputy inspector-general of police Khalid Abu Bakar has backed Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein’s claim that there were elements during the Bersih 3.0 rally that wanted to cause deaths.

This, he said, was based on video evidence collected by the police during the rally.

“We have the video clip, there are indeed parties that wanted deaths to occur. I think it is not just the minister who is saying this but we (police) have evidence,” he told a press conference in Kuala Lumpur today.

The clip, he said, showed an individual making remarks about deaths during the protest on April 28.

“We have a recording of someone saying that even if five people died, it wouldn’t matter,” he said.

Khalid said the media was welcome to obtain the clip from the police to identify the individual.

However, no action has been taken against the individual yet, because merely saying the words is not an offence under the law, he said.

At a meeting with students on May 12, Hishammuddin had reportedly said that his main concern during Bersih 3.0 was that there could be incidents of death or injury.

"I was relieved there were none. But there were some parties who wanted that to happen," he was quoted as saying in news portal The Malaysian Insider.

Khalid also said that some 21 individuals on the police wanted list have either surrendered or have been arrested in relation to the protest.

“We are giving them until tomorrow (to surrender themselves), we have already identified them.

“There is no need for a warrant of arrest because rioting is a crime (and) we can detain without a warrant."

He added that, to date, the police have received 612 police reports on Bersih 3.0.