6000 org jeeer: tak pandai kira pon jadi boleh jadi IGP?
IGP: Only 6,000 joined rally
KUALA LUMPUR, July 9 — While Bersih 2.0 declared its rally today was a success as it drew a 50,000-strong crowd, Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Ismail Omar said this evening that only 6,000 turned up.
Speaking at a press conference at the Bukit Aman police headquarters here, he also insisted that his men had acted professionally in keeping protestors at bay during the chaos that broke out in the capital city.
“If there are claims of abuse, lodge police reports,” Ismail(picture) said.
He said the protestors had mainly thronged Puduraya, Dataran Maybank and outside Stadium Merdeka, where Bersih 2.0 had wanted to hold its rally to call for free and fair elections.
Ismail said the police had done “very well” and that the roadblocks set up days before the rally had succeeded in keeping people away from the city.
Although he confirmed that protestors had dispersed at 5pm, he still could not confirm if roadblocks would be lifted by tonight, saying: “We’ll monitor the situation and see if the crowd comes back again.”
During the protest, a total of 1,401 people were detained, including 1,273 men, 115 women, 12 boys and one girl.
“All detainees were treated well... we gave them food,” Ismail said.
When pointed out, however, that Pakatan Rakyat (PR) de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim had been injured, the police chief said: “Anwar Ibrahim was not at Puduraya... he was not arrested.”
On reports that police were seen physically abusing protestors, Ismail said there were certain individuals who provoked the police.
He would not confirm if all those detained would be released within 24 hours, saying it would depend on investigations.
He added that those detained were hauled in for participating in an illegal rally, noting that the group had refused to hold the gathering outside the city, insisting instead on staging it at the historic stadium.
“Rallies are not part of our culture... let KL and other states be peaceful and harmonious,” he said.
Asked about PAS’s threat to organise another demonstration, Ismail said PAS has the right to say what it wants to say and he will launch arrests based on the law
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