YOURSAY ‘If only you were one of those innocent protesters on the receiving end, I bet you would have hit the roof a long time ago.'

'Water cannon least hurtful way to disperse crowd'

your say Anonymous #07443216: Inspector-general of police (IGP) Ismail Omar, after you ordered your men to rough up the rally protesters and now you plead to the journalists to be understanding, do you think Malaysians would heed your hypocrisy?

If only you were one of those innocent protesters on the receiving end, I bet you would have hit the roof a long time ago and be in no mood to listen to the IGP and home minister.

So IGP Ismail, we would like to remind you that what goes around comes around, your day too would come for you to be on the receiving end, instead of being the aggressor.

God is Great, you may receive worse from Allah as he would know the truth and you would have to face him sooner or later.

2zzzxxx: Ismail Omar, you and PM Najib Razak can stand on the street and we will gladly spray the chemical-laced water on both of you to test if it is hurtful.

You're an idiot to speak the way you do. No other country in the world uses it lately, except this Umno-run country.

Not Confused: Every time you open your mouth, Mr IGP, you make a bigger fool of yourself. I think you miss the point completely as usual. It's not the water cannon, or tear gas that presents the danger to the public, who are your true bosses - it's the panic that it causes!

I was there and can testify just how dangerous it was. There were many thousands of people packed into relatively narrow streets with no avenue of escape (even the gates to the LRT stations were closed).

By using water cannon and tear gas beyond the immediate area where the breach to the barricade occurred, you caused the crowds (who were up to that point peaceful and in carnival mood) to stampede in panic.

Many further back in the crowd had no idea what was happening and still kept moving relentlessly towards the square, whereas those who were closest to the FRU (riot police) action were stampeding in the reverse direction.

Many of us, including the elderly, were caught in a very dangerous crush a la Heysel or Hillsborough!

Ben-ghazi: Who in their right mind would want to occupy the Dataran Merdeka? What does it have that people want it so badly?

It is not like Angkasapuri where radio and TV broadcasts are made. An army general who want to grab power may want to occupy Angkasapuri to broadcast to the nation of the power takeover.

But Dataran Merdeka? What is hidden underneath it? Gold bullion that the PM has stashed away that he intends to airlift during his escape from the wrath of the people?

Kairos: If the police had acted with restraint, then why did they fire tear gas and water cannons at the innocent people who had nothing to do with the breach of the barricades?

Why did the police drive their police trucks kilometres away from Dataran to spray the despicable liquid on to the protesters?

Why do they pursue the people mercilessly into blocked roads and alleys and fire tear gas with the intention of harming them?

Why did they not see that the people harmed were defenseless and innocent? Has our government become so callous and totalitarian that they have lost the heart for the rakyat?

Has corruption and power blinded the eyes of the leaders so much that they now rule with an iron fist?

Karma: There are not one or two bullies. There are many, many of them! And please answer, why need to chase people down and bashed them up?

It was seven or eight against one . After tieing them up, some 'bully' policemen even kicked and slapped them continuously. What heroism is there when you attack people like this? Is there any necessity for it?

Bumiasli: I just cannot understand why such comments are made by high-ranking officials. One by one they are making a fool of themselves.

The question is why use chemical-laced water, not plain water. Were any of the protesters armed with guns, masks, helmets and batons?

How come no loudhailers were used at least to tell the crowd what the police wanted them to do. Why create panic and then attack them?

Stop making excuses to justify your actions, gentlemen (an undeserved honour with which to address such people).

Can't you see what the rakyat want? We just want you to stop playing thuggish games in the name of the law. We want to feel secure when we are with our police force.

Today we feel safer without the police around. Is that good for you, Mr IGP? What's done can be undone if only you change your ways and get back your honour.

Hmmmmmmmm: By the way, are those water cannons for rent?

I'm thinking of hosting a party next week and you know, some of my guests tend to overstay so I thought that might be the least hurtful way to remind them.

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