Padang Serai MP N Gobalakrishnan today said that he could have been killed being assaulted by the police during the Permatang Pasir nominations on Monday if not for the timely intervention of Selangor exco member Ronnie Liu.

He said that he was attacked by about 30 policemen on that day.

NONE "The policemen pounced on me, kicked and punched me, forced me to the ground, stepped on me and ripped off my trousers.

"They took photos of me semi-nude. They then humiliated me, all unprovoked," said the PKR man from Kedah, who believes that the photos would be used by his opponents in the next general election.

Gobalakrishnan claimed the whole unsavoury incident was set up by the Penang police, especially CPO Ayub Yaakob, to create a riot-like scenario that could justify either a postponement of the by-election or disqualification of the PAS candidate.

He said he indeed was grateful to his Pakatan Rakyat colleague Ronnie Liu from the DAP for saving his life in time.

"If not for Ronnie Liu, I think everyone would be attending my funeral now. I'm grateful to Ronnie Liu for saving my life," he told newsmen after discharging himself from the Gleneagles Hospital in George Town.

'Shocked over haste to charge him'

The Pakatan MP had been in the private hospital since Tuesday night for treatment to his injuries, including a fractured left arm and swollen right leg.

Prior to that, he was warded at the Bukit Mertajam government hospital after he was detained by police on Monday.

The first time parliamentarian was charged under Section 353 of the Penal Code for using criminal force to deter a public servant from discharging his official duties.

The case will be mentioned on Sept 28.

NONE Gobalakrishnan, who claimed trial and released by the Bukit Mertajam Magistrate's Court on a RM2,000 bail with one surety, expressed shock over the police haste to charge him.

"The police charged me without even recording my statement," he said, adding that he had also lodged a police report against the abusive policemen, especially one named Azlan, who attacked him.

He plans to file a suit soon to claim for criminal damages on the police.

Recalling the incident, he said he was merely shaking hands with Pakatan supporters and chanting 'Reformasi', ‘Undur Undur Najib' and ‘Undur Undur Polis" when he was suddenly kicked from behind by Azlan.

When he turned around, he claimed several policemen assaulted him before pinning him to the ground, forcing him to retaliate in self-defence to protect himself from being harmed.

'It was painful and humiliating'

"While I was being handcuffed, I could feel that my pants and belt were being cut open from behind.

"I was semi nude when they pulled me up and took photos," said the MP, adding that it was painful and humiliating to stand half-naked before thousands of people.

He said he never once thought in his life that a parliamentarian would be subjected to such aggressive attack and humiliation by the police force in this country.

parliament gobind singh ban over nazri mistake 251108 04 He also slammed the Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Nazri Abdul Aziz ( left ) for issuing statements to justify the police arrest and charge on him.

"I just hope that this sort of police brutality will not happen again to anyone. It is inhumane," he said.

He criticised CPO Ayub for suggesting that he had provoked the police and sought publicity by chanting slogans during the nomination day.

"One must be crazy and stupid to seek publicity by being assaulted by police," said Gobala.