Malaysians protest to demand electoral reform

Malaysians protest to demand electoral reform

2011-07-10 20:56:06 GMT+7 (ICT)

KUALA LUMPUR (BNO NEWS) -- One Malaysian protester has died after he collapsed during a police tear gas attack in the capital of Kuala Lumpur on Saturday, the Free Malaysia Today reported on Sunday.

According to opposition leader Latheefa Koya, the protester ran when police forces fired tear gas to disperse thousands of protesters who were marching in Kuala Lumpur to demand electoral reforms. The protester fell over another person and was later pronounced dead at Hospital Kuala Lumpur as a result of his injuries.

The deceased was identified in the report as 59-year-old Baharuddin Ahmad, who was the husband of a branch leader of the opposition People's Justice Party (PKR). His wife, Rosni Malan, was at Stadium Merdeka when the incident happened.

On Saturday, Malaysian police arrested more than 1,600 people and used tear gas and water cannons to disperse thousands of protesters. The organizer of the rally, Bersih 2.0, said some 50,000 people gathered in several areas to march to the city's Stadium Merdeka where they originally intended to hold the rally.

On Friday, however, police had banned assemblies by any groups in the capital and sealed off all major roads leading to the heart of the city. Public gatherings without police permits are illegal in Malaysia.

Also on Friday, Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein said the police were prepared to issue a permit to hold a rally on Saturday if it was held outside the capital. This was not accepted by the opposition.

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