vox populi small thumbnail 'Whatever was spent on Bersih 2.0, the real cost is in how the rakyat regards its handling of the rally before, during and after the event.'

262 tear gas munitions used on July 9 protesters

Nik V: And this is why the rakyat never believed the government's version. They say only 5,000 attended. They claim there were 11,000 police officers and 262 canisters fired and 1,600 arrested.

That would work out at each rakyat enjoying the escort of two police officers each and around 20 rakyat receiving one tear-gas canister, and in each group of five rakyat, one was arrested.

Doesn't all that suddenly make the rakyat present at the rally a tad underestimated? I would put it closer to 50,000 proud and patriotic rakyat.

Anonymous_3f94: The government spent RM23,000 on tear gas, but the cost of its reputation and integrity is much higher.

FellowMalaysian: Both smoke shells and tear-gas grenades were used. Both seem to be of similar make and used for similar purposes - that is, to disperse crowds with noxious gases.

Why did then Health Minister Liow Tiong Lai tried to distinguish vehemently between the two and he claimed also that only a 'smoke bomb' was thrown into the Tung Shin Hospital compound?

I think he had been erroneously informed (yet again?) that the 'smoke bomb' only discharges non-toxic smoke.

So did Liow flip again whilst apologising yesterday? Isn't it obvious that this minister is clueless and deserved to be badgered till he resigns?

Manjit Bhatia: You could make a mountain out of this. You could argue that the regime's reaction to Bersih 2.0 was disproportionate and, further, it had the intent to cause injury if not death to protestors.

You could also liken the regime's reaction as similar to Arab regimes, at least in the beginning, when the latter faced popular revolt in their struggle against incompetent, corrupt and autocratic or dictatorial regimes - a characterisation most apt for Malaysia.

You could argue, too, that the reaction was not taken in the interest of public or national security but in the interest of protecting the regime and its supporters.

And of the police and the FRU (Federal Reserve Unit), you could argue that these officers' blind loyalty to the regime will be repaid by the regime before and after the next general election. This is regime maintenance.

Armageddon: The police said there were only 6,000 protesters. With 262 tear gas canisters being fired, that is equivalent to one canister for every 23 people.

And yet, they claim only one police officer failed to follow the standard operating procedures. Indeed, that one policeman should be the IGP (inspector-general of police).

Kgen: Shameful. Did the peaceful protesters do anything violent to deserved being tear gassed?

Hasan raps media, DUMC incident 'search' not 'raid'

Nik V: The difference between the words 'search' and 'raid' are purely semantics. Let me ask the average rakyat what they feel and think if a bunch of people come into our homes uninvited and without a warrant and still manage to get in even though we tell them they can't, what would you feel?

I believe if you were to resist, they would get rough. Now doesn't that sound more like a 'raid'?

1M: Next time, don't raid and don't search, just give a call and say you'd like to be a guest, I'm sure these Christians will welcome you and give a VIP seat. But of course, don't come in uniform.

FairPlay: Would PAS dare touch Selangor Islamic affairs exco member Hasan Ali again even with a 10-foot pole in GE13? Let him bask in glory while it lasts.

Cannon: Hasan Ali splits hair calling the DUMC (Damansara Utama Methodist Church) incident a 'search' and not a 'raid'.

The fact of the matter is, Jais (Selangor Islamic Affairs Department) committed an act of trespassing. The entry is illegal without a police warrant. That makes the Jais officials and the accompanying police personnel who trespassed the premises of DUMC, law breakers.

It is poor witnessing for the religion for its defenders to disregard the religious sensitivities of others and to show no respect for the law of the land. It does not win adherents to the cause of Islam for its officials to behave this way.

The public is waiting to hear from the Selangor sultan on what Jais has found in its ‘search'.

Gerard Samuel Vijayan: Hasan Ali should just zip it. There is a gag order issued by the Selangor MB and the sultan has said that he will issue a directive soon. So why is Hassan so keen to defend Jais at all costs?

Whether it is a raid or search, Jais has no business entering a place of worship or even a hall situated within the compound of a church, and disrupt the lawful activities going on there.

If Jais had suspicions that Muslims were being converted, then just wait outside and then question the Muslims leaving and also seek clarification from the church authorities.

The mere presence of Muslims at a non-Muslim function does not amount to much. Otherwise, Jais should just ban Muslims from socialising with non-Muslims since the irrational fear is that Muslims are so weak in their faith that eating a meal in a church can be fatal, let alone the reciting of prayers, singing of hymns and the display of non-Muslim religious symbols.

One wonders if Islam and Christianity can ever co-exist in peace?

Henry Hock: Hasan Ali, tell me what is the difference between an illegal ‘search' and a gentle ‘raid'.

If your search is illegal, then it is illegal. If your raid (whether kicking down doors or not) is legal, it is legal. Don't play with words.

You are lucky that the Christians are not in the habit of resisting authorities, otherwise your search will have to involve kicking down doors.

You brought two truckloads of policemen, but nobody runs or resists. They just stood and let you take away documents. It is still a ‘raid'.

Clean&Clear: Whether a raid or a search is not the issue here. Why is it that an Islamic organisation is empower to ‘search' other religious buildings?

Can other religious authorities ‘search' a mosque? Or is the law created such that only Islamic organisation can ‘search' others, while others cannot do the same to these Islamic organisations?

 

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