Deputy inspector-general of police Noor Rashid Ibrahim said today Taser guns will not be used during the the weekend's Bersih 4 rally.

Asked to confirm whether Taser guns will be used during the rally, he said: "Not yet."

"We already have them (Taser guns). We will be distributing them to the (various police departments) throughout the country," Noor Rashid said at a press conference in Kuala Lumpur today.

He said it has been proven scientifically that the guns would paralyse anyone, whether a protester or a criminal, temporarily.

"So, in the future, we will be using more of these weapons," he said.

Noor Rashid's statement today came in response to him being quoted by Oriental Daily yesterday as saying that the stun weapons may used during the rallly this weekend.

Oriental Daily had quoted Noor Rashid as saying police might expand their anti-riot arsenal to include Taser guns for this weekend's Bersih 4 rally if the situation warranted it.

Noor Rashid had said that protesters might be stunned with an electric charge if they riot, become violent or resist arrest.

Commenting further on the Bersih rally today, Noor Rashid said the police allow freedom of expression as well as freedom of movement, and the people, too, have their own responsibilities.

'Do not disturb others'

"The people have the responsibility to ensure that in the efforts to express themselves, they do not disturb others.

"If they go against the law, we have to take stern action," Noor Rashid said.

Electoral reform movement Bersih's mega-rally will be held on Aug 29-30 in Kuala Lumpur, Kuching and Kota Kinabalu.

The rally is to demand five things: 1. Clean elections; 2. Clean governance; 3. Save the economy; 4. Preserving the right to dissent; and 5. Strengthening of parliamentary democracy.

Related Reports

We won't use Tasers for Bersih 4 rally: police

Sultan: Don't fool rakyat by whitewashing country's woes

Johor Sultan: Stem economic woes now

The old man's plot

Umno rep: TMJ's warning must apply to Johor tycoons

PKR Youth's Skuad to be deployed for Bersih 4 rally

Bar Council calls for EGM over Najib's RM2.6bil

Rafidah: Are Umno's strings being pulled for RM2.6b?

'Pegging ringgit will invite speculative attack'

Swiss aim for new law to return stashed funds

Swiss 1MDB probe focuses on two executives

PAS reiterates it’s out of Bersih 4

Gov’t to establish special economic committee

Muhyiddin to be sacked as Umno No 2?

In bid to stay in power, PM ‘bastardises’ M’sia

Ringgit will keep falling if key issues not addressed

What happened to the '40 thieves'?

Backing down helps increase Penang’s stature