Police continue to insist that tear gas is safe to use, this time quoting Sirim and the Chemistry Department to back their stand.

"Our tear gas and equipment meet the standards and safety features imposed by Sirim and the Chemistry Department," said FRU commander SAC Abdul Hamid Mohd Ali in a  video   uploaded on the police's official Facbook page yesterday.

This apparent damage control move  comes after April Bersih 3.0 rally had ended on a highly controversial note with the police being accused of using excessive force against the participants.

NONE On May 6, police published videos on the social networking site saying the use of tear gas as a riot-control agent is safe , meets international standards and is UN-approved.

This blew up in their faces when the UN denied the claims in a statement, pointing out that tear gas has caused deaths and that the international body had "consistently condemned the excessive use of force, including the use of tear gas."

In yesterday's three-minute clip, Abdul Hamid also said that the move is resorted to only after warnings and water cannons fail to disperse a crowd.

"Police conduct when dispersing illegal assemblies or riots is governed by the Anti-Riot Drill. The procedure outlines our principle of action, which is to use minimum force," he said.

The video concluded with Abdul Hamid saying that street demonstrations and violence are not part of Malaysian culture, and urged the public to use other avenues to voice their grouses, such as the courts or parliament.