Police confirm tear gas used in Bukit Gantang
IPOH, April 10 - Police today confirmed that tear gas was fired at supporters in Changkat Jering during polling day in the Bukit Gantang by-election.
Internal Security and Public Order director Commissioner Datuk Hussin Ismail told reporters here that the incident occurred before noon outside SMK Pengkalan Aur in Air Kuning but added that police had acted out of necessity.
"I am aware of the incident, yes, but it was a warranted move because there was a purpose and an objective," he said.
"The commander in charge at the time felt there was a necessity to fire the gas to disperse the crowd because the situation was getting too tense," he said after a function at the General Operations Force northern brigade base in Ulu Kinta here this morning.
Hussin stressed that in such a situation, the commander could use his discretion and order for the gas to be fired, based on standard procedures.
"We understand that it there was some inconvenience caused to the innocent people who had come to vote. However, there was little choice for the supporters had refused to listen to the police's order for them to disperse," he said.
During polling day, rumours that gas was being fired at supporters began spreading like wildfire some time after noon, just a few hours after voting began.
Bloggers had picked up on news of the incident and began posting speculations online.
At first, word was that the incident had taken place in Changkat Ibol, but checks proved the rumours untrue.
Next, it was learnt that the incident had occurred in Taman Kaya, Simpang, instead, but that too proved untrue.
Finally, it was learnt that the incident had happened in Air Kuning, in the Changkat Jering state constituency, but due heavy traffic congestion across the constituency that day, it was near impossible to find out if the rumours were real.
When contacted, several police spokespersons had also chosen to keep mum on the matter, claiming that no report had been lodged on the incident.
Since then, more blogs spoke of the incident and even videos were posted online.
Today, Perak police chief Deputy Commissioner Datuk Zulkifli Abdullah said that he too had been aware of the incident.
"But like Hussin said, the gas was fired out of necessity. The supporters from both sides were getting too rowdy.
"When they started throwing objects at one another, the LSF had to intervene and fired one round of tear gas.
"Once they fired the gas, the supporters dispersed and the tense situation was over within minutes. We did not arrest anyone," he said.
He said that since the incident was now three days old, there was no need to raise the matter again.
Internal Security and Public Order director Commissioner Datuk Hussin Ismail told reporters here that the incident occurred before noon outside SMK Pengkalan Aur in Air Kuning but added that police had acted out of necessity.
"I am aware of the incident, yes, but it was a warranted move because there was a purpose and an objective," he said.
"The commander in charge at the time felt there was a necessity to fire the gas to disperse the crowd because the situation was getting too tense," he said after a function at the General Operations Force northern brigade base in Ulu Kinta here this morning.
Hussin stressed that in such a situation, the commander could use his discretion and order for the gas to be fired, based on standard procedures.
"We understand that it there was some inconvenience caused to the innocent people who had come to vote. However, there was little choice for the supporters had refused to listen to the police's order for them to disperse," he said.
During polling day, rumours that gas was being fired at supporters began spreading like wildfire some time after noon, just a few hours after voting began.
Bloggers had picked up on news of the incident and began posting speculations online.
At first, word was that the incident had taken place in Changkat Ibol, but checks proved the rumours untrue.
Next, it was learnt that the incident had occurred in Taman Kaya, Simpang, instead, but that too proved untrue.
Finally, it was learnt that the incident had happened in Air Kuning, in the Changkat Jering state constituency, but due heavy traffic congestion across the constituency that day, it was near impossible to find out if the rumours were real.
When contacted, several police spokespersons had also chosen to keep mum on the matter, claiming that no report had been lodged on the incident.
Since then, more blogs spoke of the incident and even videos were posted online.
Today, Perak police chief Deputy Commissioner Datuk Zulkifli Abdullah said that he too had been aware of the incident.
"But like Hussin said, the gas was fired out of necessity. The supporters from both sides were getting too rowdy.
"When they started throwing objects at one another, the LSF had to intervene and fired one round of tear gas.
"Once they fired the gas, the supporters dispersed and the tense situation was over within minutes. We did not arrest anyone," he said.
He said that since the incident was now three days old, there was no need to raise the matter again.
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