PKR MP: Cops fired without warning

According to Kuantan MP Fuziah Salleh, the police unleashed their water cannons without giving any warning.

UPDATED

KUALA LUMPUR: PKR leader Fuziah Salleh has recounted what transpired this afternoon prior to the police firing tear gas and water cannons at the Bersih 3.0 protesters.

According to the Kuantan MP, who has been at the forefront of the anti-Lynas campaign, she was travelling in a Toyota Hilux with Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim and Bersih chairperson S Ambiga along Jalan Tun Perak where the duo addressed the crowd.

“Ambiga wanted to get down from the truck but the crowd was too tight.

“We asked the crowd to disperse but spirits were too high so we decided to drive forward so it would be easier to disperse them,” she added.

Following this, Fuziah said they had stopped at a junction and wanted to turn into Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman.

“Anwar and (DAP supremo Lim) Kit Siang were about to give a speech when we suddenly saw them (the police) spraying chemical water. (There was) No warning whatsoever.

“My bodyguard pulled me to the DBKL (building) and we rested in an ambulance. People were coughing blood and (tear gas) canisters were flying everywhere.

“People couldn’t walk because they couldn’t see or breathe. Police didn’t allow people to be static so they chased them off,” she added.

Fuziah said if the authorities had allowed the organisers to use Dataran Merdeka, “there would have been space for everyone.”

She pointed out that the anti-Lynas Himpunan Hijau 2 rally in Kuantan proceeded peacefully because the organisers were given a field.

The police escorted us and made sure we were safe, she added.

Protesters hound ‘SB’
In another development, protesters at Masjid Jamek vented their anger on those whom they suspected of being undercover policemen.

Just minutes ago, a Malay man in his 40s was hounded by a crowd of 500, shouting,”SB (Special Branch), SB!”

The man quickly produced a Bersih headband, which simmered the crowd down. Nevertheless, some PAS Unit Amal crew members quickly led the man to safety.

The PAS members then tried to get the crowd, numbering close to 1,000, to disperse.

Just then, several police trucks drove past, prompting some in the crowd to pelt the vehicles with bottles and stones.

The police convoy stopped for a moment, causing the crowd to scatter, before moving on.

Crowd uncontrollable
Meanwhile, near the Masjid Jamek LRT station, a PAS Unit Amal member was heckled and assaulted by some 2,000 protesters when they were told to disperse and return home.

“Please don’t continue. I’m asking you, please don’t continue these protests. Please disperse,” the volunteer told them, gesturing at the FRU police team far behind him.

But the angry protesters would have none of it. They told him to get lost, and slapped his helmet, and the motorcycle he was on.

“Go home! We’re not going anywhere, we’re staying here!,” different people in the crowd shouted at him.

Shaking his head, he turned his motorcycle around as the crowd jeered at him.

With the PAS man gone, the crowd turned their attention to the police, and continued with their insults.