Mat Sabu: Police Land Rover rammed me

Joseph Sipalan
Malaysiakini
Jul 11, 11

PAS deputy president Mohamad Sabu today claimed police rammed a truck into the motorbike he was riding en-route to join Bersih 2.0 protesters last Saturday.

Visiting the Selangor state assembly building in a wheelchair, the usually jovial leader took a more sombre tone as he recounted his harrowing experience.

“I was on a motorbike on the way to Masjid Negara, when suddenly a Land Rover rammed into us. I didn’t know it was a police Land Rover at the time,” he told journalists at a press conference.

“The impact threw me off and I was rolling on the ground. They then brought me into the Land Rover and took me to a clinic in Jinjang, which referred me to the hospital.”

Mat Sabu, as he is popularly known, said he was eventually released for outpatient treatment, but decided to seek further checks at the Selangor Medical Centre, which confirmed a far worse injury than initially thought.

“I was suffering from constant pain in my leg, so I went for a check and the doctor confirmed I am suffering from a torn ligament and now I will have to go for an operation this Friday to put in plates,” he said, indicating to his right knee.

Also present at the press conference was PAS’ Shah Alam MP Khalid Samad, who was also allegedly injured on the back of his head by a tear gas canister fired directly at the crowd at KL Sentral.

Khalid, who got six stitches on his head, claimed riot police at the station’s airport bus route sandwiched him, along with Pakatan and Bersih 2.0 top leaders and protesters, as they attempted to march to Stadium Merdeka.

‘My spectacles flew’

“We stopped when we saw FRU blocking the way, and we also noticed FRU moving in behind us. Without warning, they started shooting tear gas and they were aiming at the demonstrators.

“I turned around to look at the FRU (members) behind us, and suddenly my spectacles flew and there was blood everywhere,” he said.

Khalid said he was then brought in for treatment, claiming that even the doctor who treated his wound was shocked to see the extent of his injuries.

“The doctor who checked me was surprised that the wound was very clean cut, just like (getting sliced by) a knife. This would only happen if tear gas was aimed directly at people,” he claimed.

Khalid was incredulous over the police’s behaviour in allegedly brutalising Bersih 2.0 protesters, particularly for the alleged assault on Mat Sabu.

“What is this? It is as if he (Mat Sabu) is a big time drug smuggler. He’s lucky only his leg was injured.”

Khalid also slammed the police for allegedly firing tear gas and a water cannons into the compound of the Tung Shin hospital along Jalan Pudu, accusing the men in blue of acting like the “protectors of BN”.

“Don’t take sides. Stop behaving as defenders of the BN government… Your job is to take care of the rakyat,” he said.

‘Najib a liar’

Mat Sabu also had little good to say of the police’s actions on Saturday, calling them a bunch of “gangsters”.

But his harshest criticism was reserved for Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak, whom he called a “liar” for back-tracking on his promise to allow the rally to be held at a stadium of Bersih’s choosing.

“First he says we can use any stadium, and when we ask to meet him, he denies our request. Najib is a liar, and he is not qualified to lead Malaysia.”

Mat Sabu declined to comment when asked if he would urge Pakatan to demand for Najib’s resignation, though he had no qualms launching more barbs at the premier.

“(Resigning) is up to him (Najib). But he is a liar. At least say you will investigate (claims of police brutality)… He is only qualified to be Rosmah (Mansor)’s husband,” he said in a snide reference the self-declared First Lady of Malaysia.