By Melissa Chi
The Malaysian Insider
Oct 04, 2011
KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 4 — The government spent more than RM2 million to “handle” the outlawed rally by electoral reform group Bersih 2.0 in July, it was revealed today.
More than 11,000 police officers were also deployed in the days leading up to the rally on July 9.
In a written reply in Parliament to Teresa Kok (DAP-Seputeh), Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein said today the total amount spent by the police to “handle” the rally was RM2,018,850.06.
He added that a total of 11,046 police officers from all over the country were stationed in the Klang Valley area, including 2,600 who were on standby outside the city.
“PDRM had to make preparations which included expenditure for additional fittings, food and drinks, lodging and other logistic needs,” he said.
The protest turned chaotic when the police fired tear gas and water cannon at thousands of demonstrators, resulting in nearly 1,700 arrests, scores injured and the death of ex-soldier Baharuddin Ahmad, 59.
Bersih estimates that 50,000 people showed up at the July 9 rally for free and fair elections despite government efforts to prevent it from taking place while the police have said there were only 6,000.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak has since gone to great lengths to try and win back middle Malaysia after international condemnation of the clampdown on the rally.
In the wake of the rally, Najib had promised to reform the country’s election process, a key demand of Bersih 2.0, followed by sweeping changes to security and press laws, a move he said was to increase civil liberties in the country.
#1 by usa.stranger on Tuesday, 4 October 2011 - 1:24 pm
Time machine –>
Government approved July 9th Bersih.
4th Oct-The saving-of RM2,018,850.06:Government use it for all Malaysian education .
Is it this happy ending !
#2 by k1980 on Tuesday, 4 October 2011 - 1:42 pm
So easy to “fix” anwar despite all the warnings and info available about (pang)sai fool. Turns out the bigger fool is anwar.
Saiful’s former university mate Najwan said he knew the complainant since 2003 when they were both studying at Universiti Tenaga Nasional Uniten and lived opposite each other’s dormitories.
Najwan claimed he was “shocked” to find out Saiful had joined Anwar’s staff in 2008 and that he had even warned Anwar about it in an email. “I warned Anwar because I thought Saiful was not fit to work for him ”.
http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/saiful-hates-anwar-says-former-university-mate/
#3 by monsterball on Tuesday, 4 October 2011 - 3:25 pm
RM2 million spent for few days….protecting who?…protecting UMNO b or Malaysians?
What is RM2 million of tax payers money to BN..when billions are stolen every year.
No money….what is the problem…increase this ..increase that…tax more.
Soon more oil money flow in….and wheeling dealing starts again.
We have seen it all for decades…and through the 12th GE..without 2/3 majority….so much have been exposed.
It is a battle for Najib….no more an election battle.
It is a battle to win at all cost….to save all thieves and rouges.
#4 by ktteokt on Tuesday, 4 October 2011 - 3:30 pm
Spend RM2 million of the rakyat’s money to torture, injure and humiliate the rakyat themselves? Would Najis use his own money to be tortured, injured and humiliated by his PDRM boys??????
#5 by St Peter on Tuesday, 4 October 2011 - 4:02 pm
Chinese schools asked for education fund, Jib said to children: go back and ask your parents to gamble more, so that you not only have the fund, you have also the scholarship for university. Bravo Jib, spent RM2 million here and RM 20 million there, Jib, you better ask MCA to close shop, we can gamble more for the better future of our children..Shammmmmme JIB !
#6 by dagen on Tuesday, 4 October 2011 - 4:39 pm
Dear Jib,
Why are you NR001, NR002 & NR003 parked in singapore airport?
#7 by monsterball on Tuesday, 4 October 2011 - 6:14 pm
To get ready and load up chosen ones….fly away away…..if BN looses 13th GE….to maxhiko…thahiti…..venzuela….i theeenk.
Mooney….no problem. Billions hidden under secret accounts.
#8 by Cinapek on Tuesday, 4 October 2011 - 11:15 pm
Hisham said : “… that a total of 11,046 police officers from all over the country were stationed in the Klang Valley area,….” while the PDRM claimed there were only 6000 marchers.
So the PDRM outnumbered the marchers 2 to 1. So logically we should see more police than marchers. Funny, those pictures showed otherwise. Ah, I know. The police were mostly in plainclothes. Or else the majority of them must be sitting in the mamak stalls and let only the FRU do the rough stuff. Or are they all mostly stationed in Putrajaya guarding the FLOM’s handbags in case the marchers reach Putrajaya?
Telling so many lies so often that they forgot what they have lied and get caught out by their own lies.
#9 by boh-liao on Tuesday, 4 October 2011 - 11:27 pm
Aiyoh, sure meh, so cheap 1 meh? Only 2 million? Polis fired water cannons n tear gas left right n centre at rakyat, so many fired, even fired them into a hospital
So many fired, yet so cheap, can believe 1 aah? No lies meh? Just like earlier hospital board n polis claimed that NO gas canisters or water cannons were fired into d hospital, but turned out 2 b a BIG FAT LIE, NOT TRUE 1!
#10 by boh-liao on Wednesday, 5 October 2011 - 1:00 am
UmnoB/BN truly a farked up undemocratic gomen, wasting rakyat’s duit n causing huge inconveniences 2 rakyat by not allowing a peaceful BERSIH 2.0 rally on 9 July
#11 by best4rakyat on Wednesday, 5 October 2011 - 6:45 pm
Remembered even standby ‘ala-carte’ chicken rice ready for the numbers!
Unique in the world a 1nation had preparedness or so kind towards such an imaginary ‘riot’ may do with Birsih2.0.
Can anyone make a movie out of it?