Malaysian Police Shoot Protester As Rally Turns Violent

Malaysian police shot and wounded a protester and arrested 23 others as riots broke out at a political rally in the country's northeast, police and opposition figures said on Sunday.

The head of Terengganu state police said the officer had been forced to open fire as protesters began hurling rocks and bottles when police attempted to disperse them late Saturday.

"When the policeman was hit in the head, this forced him to pull out his gun and he fired a shot in self-defence," Ayub Yaakob told the official Bernama news agency. "The shot managed to force the attackers to run away," he said, adding that 23 people were arrested for various offences.

Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak defended the police action, saying it was their duty to ensure law and order. "This is within the jurisdiction of the police. The government did not give any instruction to the police," Bernama quoted him as saying.

The rally, held by three opposition parties, was aimed at promoting free and fair elections.

Ayub said two men were injured in the shooting. But Syed Azman Syed Ahmad of the fundamentalist Pan-Malaysia Islamic (PAS) party told AFP that just one protester was shot and that he was in hospital in a critical condition.

Syed Azman said the violence erupted after police fired tear gas and used water canons to break up the peaceful gathering.

He said the situation became tense when police refused to allow speakers to proceed. "The police gave orders to arrest me and the other speakers. At this point, the police fired tear gas at a nearby group and used water canons to disperse the crowd," he said.

Tian Chua of the People's Justice Party said police had been "heavy-handed."

"The last-minute decision of the police to revoke the permit for the gathering which they had originally granted is not only unreasonable but also highly suspect, and points towards political meddling," he said. (Channel Newsasia)

***** We still need permits from the police to hold a public meeting. And the authorities shamelessly claim that we are a democratic nation!
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