'Clinically blind' Bersih protester testifies at inquiry

A supporter of the coalition for clean and fair elections (Bersih) may not land a career in mechanical engineering as he is "clinically blind" after being hit by a tear gas canister, and may never recover.

The canister hit Asrul Wadi Ahmad, 27, on his right eyeduring the Bersih 3.0 rally at Dataran Merdeka on April 28.

He told the Human Rights Commission (Suhakam) panel, which is probing alleged human rights violations during the rally, that he had graduated with a degree in mechanical engineering from University Tun Hussein Onn in February.

He was interviewed for the position of an assistant engineer in a firm in Penang and obtained his employment letter after he sustained the injury.

"First, they gave a one-week extension from the date that I was suppose to report. Then they gave a one-month extension,” said the soft-spoken youth, who appeared as the 13th witness today.

"I had to inform them of my condition, as it can be only ascertained after six months if my vision will improve. They (the employers) said that vision is very important for the job and that they will have re-consider the offer.

"The doctor told me during the follow-up checks that it is impossible for me to recover.”

Asrul has since consulted doctors from two private and three government hospitals, but the answer has been the same - that the injury cannot be reversed via medical procedures.

He described the moments before the incident when he, together with his father and younger brother, fled from the water feature at Jalan Tun Perak, adjacent to Dataran Merdeka.

"We ran from the location when the tear gas was fired, the three of us took refuge in Masjid Jamek.

"A little while later we walked out of Masjid Jamek but because it was so crowded and chaotic, my brother and I were separated from our father.

"That was when I hit by the canister and fell to the ground. It was shot straight at me, I could see it coming.

"People around me carried me back into Masjid Jamek and then the paramedics came in an ambulance which took my brother and me to Kuala Lumpur Hospital.”

Asrul's right eye required nine stitches and he had two more for wounds under his nose.

He also disagreed with a suggestion by DSP S Shanmugamoorthy, who is holding a watching brief for the police, that the risk could have been avoided if he had not attended the rally.

Video recordings

An earlier witness, insurance agent Lee Teck Yew, 39, submitted five video recordings related to incidents during the rally.

He was in the Himpunan Hijau entourage, which had marched from Kuala Lumpur City Centre to Dataran Merdeka to join the Bersih 3.0 rally.

He had made recordings at various places before and after the melee that day, using his mobile phone.

Lee said he arrived at Dataran Merdeka with his wife about 1.30pm and took part in the sit-in protest until the area became too crowded.

"About 2.30pm, my wife and I left Dataran and walked towards Masjid Jamek, as we had agreed to meet my sister-in-law at Dataran Maybank is case we were separated,” he related.

"As we were making our way up Jalan Tun Perak, the tear gas was fired. I didn't hear any warning, I just saw the smoke.”

They managed to make their way to Dataran Maybank where they met his sister-in-law, and went on to the Imbi monorail station near Times Square.

"We changed trains at Dang Wangi and accompanied my sister-in-law to the Gombak LRT station where she had parked her car, as she had travelled from Kuantan.

"My wife and I then took the LRT back to the Masjid Jamek where we needed to change trains to the Pandan Indah LRT station.

"As we walked out of the underground station to take the other train about 6.50pm, we saw cops rushing into the Masjid Jamek station and beating up people," said Lee, who recorded this on video.

One video showed a police officer pointing at Lee, who was standing on the elevated platform waiting for the train to Pandan Indah to arrive.

"I immediately stopped recording, but a cop came from behind and nabbed me. He refuse to tell me why I was been arrested, he only said "Jangan tanya, ikut sahaja" (don't ask, just follow).

"A few more came and started beating me up. I fell on the side of platform and they kicked and stepped on me.”

The police prevented his wife from coming close and forced her to get into the train, he said.

Lee said another person had recorded the beating he received, got into the train with his wife and provided the footage as evidence.

Although the clip was submitted today, panel head and Suhakam vice-chairperson Khaw Lake Tee said it can only be admitted as evidence once the owner verifies it.

Lee was then taken to the Royal Selangor Club before being sent to the Police Training Centre, from which he was released past midnight. He said he received five stitches to his right ear and sustained bruises all over his body.

The inquiry resumes tomorrow at 9.15am before the panel, which also comprises commissioners  Detta Samen and Mahmood Zuhdi A Majid.