The police are given an earful for resorting to force when breaking up a peaceful demonstration yesterday.

AI Malaysia executive director Josef Roy Benedict

Amnesty International condemns the alleged excessive use of force by the police when dispersing a peaceful demonstration held at the Kuala Lumpur City Centre yesterday...

The right to freedom of assembly and peaceful protest is an intrinsic part of the right to freedom of expression. This right is guaranteed in Article 19 and 20 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and in Article 10 of the Federal Constitution.

This action clearly illustrates the concerns... that torture and ill treatment continues unabated in Malaysia, particularly by the police.

It also shows the lack of political will by the government to ensure that operational methods and practices by the police are in line with international standards as recommended by Suhakam and the Royal Commission of Inquiry.

Amnesty International calls for a proper and full investigation into the incident.

DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng

DAP strongly deplores the police for their unprovoked violence in arresting 20 persons protesting against the fuel and electricity tariff hike by the government at the Kuala Lumpur City Centre yesterday.

Yesterday's violence by the police in beating up peaceful demonstrators highlighted the need to quickly establish an IPCMC (Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission) to stop abuses of human rights by the police.

Bar Council chairperson Yeo Yang Poh

This is another strong, powerful reason why the IPCMC is essential. ...In situations such as this, it would be totally unconvincing if the ensuing investigations is conducted internally, because we already hear the official stand of the police (that they were merely acting in self-defence).

And it would be very unconvincing for the public to have the police then conduct an internal investigation into an incident such as this. This enforces the need to have an independent body in the nature of the IPCMC.

In the case of (any) incident, if the police acted entirely properly, then we are sure the independent body would clear them and their credibility would be preserved and even enhanced.

However, if there is any improper conduct or one that exceeded the necessary use of force, then all the more so that an investigation needs to be conducted by an independent body and not internally, as it has been done all this while. Whichever way you look at it, an independent oversight body is a must.

PKR information chief Tian Chua

I think yesterday's thing was quite shocking. I still don't understand why the police used such brute force towards the demonstrators. It was totally unprovoked, and the way they handled it was appalling. I'm at a loss for words as to why it was so brutal.

Firstly, it looked like the police wanted to demonstrate that they were beyond challenge. They felt very upset with the public and the NGOs and parliamentarians questioning them about the IPCMC. It's more like they were striking back. It also looked like they do not care about public opinion.

Secondly, I think there's a lack of clear guidance from the political leaders to instruct the police to uphold civil behaviour and that's very obvious. There was so much talk before that we should respect freedom of assembly, (Human Rights Commission) Suhakam had already made recommendations that the police should allow free expression. That had not been fully accepted or implemented by the government. If the government took a very clear stand, I think they could restrain the police. Unfortunately, that is not being done.

Thirdly, there is an implicit instruction to the press not to mention the price hike. Most of the press were silent on this. Without the scrutiny of the press, the police can do whatever they like. This event, the public had not seen it, it has not aroused an uproar, no one would criticise the government for unnecessary force, so they're pretty much above criticism.

I can assume that if we take further action, the police would take similar or more brutal force to handle (the demonstrators). This time, it was much more brutal than the last demonstration. It's almost like they're saying 'Don't test us. We are at (the end of) our (patience)'.

Immediate past president of (human rights group) Hakam Ramdas Tikamdas

The shocking display of police aggression and repression to a constitutional exercise of peaceful assembly by lawful citizens of this country is reminiscent of the dark and brutal days of the reformasi period that most Malaysians want to forget. The police misconduct is also a reminder that the IPCMC is a prerequisite for police reform.

What happened yesterday is an open rejection by the police by conduct to the recommendations of the Royal Police Commission and Suhakam on proposals for police reform.

PAS deputy president Nasharuddin Mat Isa

It was a clear act of very uncivilised brutality because the gathering was peaceful and meant for the people. The people who came did not represent just political parties, so it wasn't a political issue. Those who came were from NGOs, students... It was also a mix of all races.

There was no reason why the police should have acted as such. The assembly was a very peaceful one, they knew one after another speaker was going to speak, and we intended to stay there no more than two hours. But after they started to shoot the water at us, and the beating started, it was as if we were criminals.

To us, we are very disappointed with the act. It has been a total waste of public money to set up the Royal Police Commission which the police is not even respecting. We are now calling for Suhakam to act. As far as PAS is concerned, we are going to take this case to Suhakam and the relevant authorities, plus we will make it an international issue.

I was there at the hospital to look at those who had been beaten, some were hit on the head and their lips were bleeding. Even after they started bleeding, they were handcuffed. One had to have stitches, and was discharged only today. They beat people like animals.

Photo gallery

Video footage

Brutal end to anti-fuel hike demo

Police 'attack' IPCMC in internal bulletin