In a rare move, Health Minister Liow Tiong Lai took to Twitter early this morning in an effort to deflect the barrage of blows and criticism against him over reports on the firing of tear gas into Tun Shin Hospital.

After what appears to be an incessant campaign of salvos against the MCA deputy president over his past statements on the incident at the during last Saturday's Bersih 2.0 rally, Liow attempted to put a stop to the ‘personal attacks'.

NONE "Thank you for your feedback. I have seen and heard the videos and stories that some of you have posted on Facebook and Twitter.

"Like all Malaysians, I'm concerned if there is any cause of disruption in hospital services," Liow ( left ) said in a rare address on political issues through the micro-blogging website.

He explained that he was merely conveying whatever that was told to him by the hospital management.

"What I related to you was what was reported to me by the hospital board. It is unfortunate that opposition leaders are spinning this and making personal attacks on me.

"This is not the kind of politics I wish to indulge in. I would advise everyone to wait for the results of police investigations into all reports on incidents that took place on Saturday.

"In the meantime, I urge all sides to please respect hospitals as a place of convalescence," he tweeted about 12.30 this morning.

'Smoke was blown by the wind'

Liow had previously denied that tear gas was fired at the protesters who had run into the hospital compound during police crackdown on the rally.

"The police shot the tear gas over the main road. Maybe the smoke was blown by the wind in this direction - that, we don't know, but they were not aiming at the hospital," he was reported to have said on Monday.

Asked about the numerous photos and videos showing otherwise, he then told the reporters not to bring them up anymore.

"The board of the hospital also confirmed this, (so) don't cite whatever pictures or videos again," he said.

Despite Liow's apparently softening approach to the controversy, some local netizens on Twitter continued to greet his statements with much cynicism.

"Hospital was either threatened or bribed!" said Twitter user @copykate today.

"Dereliction of fiduciary duty can say sorry. But if you lie or mislead, its fundamental. Hara kiri old way. New way, resign," tweeted @kerrysin.

Hundreds of eyewitnesses can't be wrong