Police: Tear gas used at rally safe, UN-approved

PETALING JAYA: The police have defended their use of tear gas during the Bersih 3.0 rally on April 28, saying it was not harmful to human health.

Logistics Department (Weaponry) assistant chief director ACP Syed Mustafa Raja Syed Nordin, in a five-minute-long video clip posted Monday at the Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM) official Facebook page, said the equipment used to dispersed protesters was "safe" and "complied with international standards."

In the video, Syed Mustafa showed four different kinds of irritants used during the rally - tear gas grenades, tear gas canisters, liquid eye irritants and pepper spray.

"All these are imported from the United States, Canada and Switzerland. Each complies with international standards set by United Nations (UN)," said Syed Mustafa.

"These items contain 'CS Gas', which the UN has approved as a 'riot control agent.' Many countries generally endorse this gas as non-lethal," he explained.

He added that countries such as the US, United Kingdom, Switzerland and Germany used the same irritants during rallies and protests.

He also said the Federal Reserve Unit (FRU) was frequently exposed to CG Gas during training and that so far, none of its personnel had been injured from exposure.

"The CS gas is also not banned under the Chemical Weapons Convention 1993. Malaysia is one of the countries that has ratified this convention," said Syed Mustafa.

Syed Mustafa also dismissed allegations that CS Ggas was the same one used by Israel.

PDRM also uploaded another video featuring interviews with the suppliers of CS Gas and CS liquid who assured the irritants caused only in temporary irritations to those hit by it.

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