"This is only the beginning," said Amran Zulkifli, whose bleeding image spoke volumes of the police crackdown last Sunday on peaceful demonstrators protesting against the fuel and electricity tariffs hike.

The 38-year old businessman said he will pursue legal action against the police for their brutal violation of his and the people's right to peacefully gather and express their grievances.

The sight of Amran, who received five stitches after being repeatedly clubbed by the police and sustained deep wounds to his head, had shocked witnesses and those who saw the photos of the demonstration.

"The conduct of the police that day was completely irrational, and could have led to worse things, even maybe fatalities," Amran told malaysiakini.

"This is only the beginning of a larger struggle for the plight of the people," he added when met after a press conference on the incident at the PAS reserach centre in Kuala Lumpur.

Now a political issue

Earlier, PAS deputy president Nasharuddin Mat Isa told reporters that while legal action would be sought against the police for their assault on Amran, the opposition party will consult with its lawyers on the other violations that had occurred on Sunday.

Large numbers of non-governmental organisations and student groups as well as opposition parties were present at the protest outside the Kuala Lumpur City Centre and whose representatives were slated to speak before the police crackdown.

"It was not originally a political issue, but has now become one," said Nasharuddin in reference to the police's excessive use of force.

He added that the incident would not cow the people into ending their protest.

"(The next demonstration) will be even larger than this last one. Are we afraid? No," he said.

PAS will take up the issue with other national and international human rights organisations such as Amnesty International, said Nasharuddin.

He also scoffed at claims by Dang Wangi district police chief Kamal Pasha that the federal reserve unit charged at the protesters in self-defense.

Work of certain quarters

"They were the ones who came in full body-kit and batons, and they say (they acted in) self-defense? They who came up against protesters armed only with mineral water bottles? Against women?"

In a press release, a group that calls itself the Coalition Protesting Against the Fuel Hike (Protes) claimed the violence was the work of certain quarters wielding influence over the police force that seek to cover the mismanagement of the country's resources.

"Protes calls on the police not to allow their institution to be used for the interests of a few persons leading to the neglect of its larger responsibility of maintaining public order and peace," it said in the statement.