Have the police adopted a soft approach in dealing with peaceful protests?

In the past, such protests were punctuated by water cannons and swinging batons. The most recent being the anti-fuel price hike protest in Kuala Lumpur on May 28 last year.

Referred to as ' Bloody Sunday ', the incident saw several protestors sustaining serious injuries after being set upon by members of the Federal Reserve Unit (FRU).

This led the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) to launch a public inquiry into the matter and a report is expected soon.

But there appears to be a wind of change blowing through the police force, especially since Musa Hassan took over the helm in September.

And last Sunday's anti-toll price hike protest was testimony to this.

Thousands had gathered outside the Sunway Pyramid shopping mall to vent their frustration but the police did nothing more than keep a watchful eye.

Malaysiakini looks at the difference in police attitude during the Bloody Sunday incident and the toll price hike protest over the weekend

Swooping helicopters

The toll protest saw more than double the number of police personnel compared to the May 28 protest, where some 200 policemen were involved.

On both occasions, the police brought their water cannons, dogs, machine guns and tear gas launchers while the protestors brought placards and banners.

One notable difference was the presence of 20 female FRU personnel in the front-line of a blockade set up in Sunway.

During the Bloody Sunday incident, the police had also resorted to using a helicopter to swoop low over the protestors to intimidate them.

Last Sunday saw a police helicopter flying over the area only after the protest had concluded.

On May 28, police officers shouted their orders and threatened the protestors. When they refused to disperse, the water cannons fired and batons came crashing. Nearly 20 people, including women, were arrested.

Polite terms

Last Sunday, the officers used polite terms and the word 'please' was often heard. The protestors were also allowed to disperse on their own after two-hours of venting their anger against the increase in toll rates

There were no arrests or broken bones and this won praises from the organisers, protestors and observers alike.

Commenting on this, an observer said this is how the police should behave.

"There is no reason to resort to harsh measures when dealing with peaceful protests. Compared to Bloody Sunday, this can be classified as Happy Sunday," he added.

On the same note, he pointed out that the venue of the protest could also be a determining factor.

"If it is a sensitive area, such as the Twin Towers or Putrajaya, the more sensitive the police become. They might move in hard to quell the protest," he explained.