Malaysian police turn tear gas, water cannons on protesters

Although it slips past the radar of global outrage, Malaysia has been a one-party state for decades. State-led development policies have skillfully mitigated the political opposition that this dominance has created, although with rising numbers of people losing out from economic growth and religious tensions emerging, this is bound to end.

The current demonstrations are focusing on electoral reform in order to break the stranglehold of the ruling party, a demand that was met with both disbelief and brutality by authorities who are unaccustomed to such mobilization.

Al Jazeera recorded the protest comprehensively:

Malaysian police unleashed tear gas and water cannons on protesters Saturday as tens of thousands defied a government ban and rallied in the capital to call for clean and fair elections.

Leading human rights group Suaram said 23 demonstrators were arrested at the rally, which took place despite police efforts to close down the city centre with roadblocks.

Some 30,000 protesters eventually massed outside Malaysia’s royal palace, led by opposition leaders including dissident former deputy premier Anwar Ibrahim, as they faced off against hundreds of riot police.

Earlier at a downtown mosque that served as a meeting point for protesters, tear gas and cannons were used to disperse a large crowd, police and demonstrators said.

Posted by Szamko
Just tries to tell the truth.