Al-Jazeera - Inilah demokrasi cara Malaysia
Malaysian Information Minister Zainuddin Maidin defends police action against protesters calling for changes to electoral process.
Zam Refutes Al Jazeera's Claim Police Used Force On Protesters
KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 10 (Bernama) -- Information Minister Datuk Seri Zainuddin Maidin has refuted satellite television station Al Jazeera's claim that police had used force on hundreds of protesters here today.
He told the station that police had tried to disperse the protesters by using water cannons as the gathering was illegal. "When they refused to disperse, the police allowed them to march to Istana Negara to hand over a memorandum demanding for a clean and fair election.
"The police managed to handle the situation as best they could," he said over the phone in a live interview by Al Jazeera here.
He was responding to the illegal assembly organised by the Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections or "Bersih" comprising 26 non-governmental organisations and which also involved opposition parties, to hand over the memorandum containing their demands, to Istana Negara.
Asked why Malaysia did not allow such gatherings, Zainuddin said they were unnecessary because general elections had been held without fail in this country and according to the scheduled dates.
The minister also hit out at Al Jazeera for having the wrong perception when posing questions.
Al Jazeera reporters had their own perceptions about Malaysia before coming here, he said, adding that "Malaysia is not Myanmar or Pakistan; it is a democratic country".
Zainuddin said many television viewers in Malaysia were laughing at the antics of the Al Jazeera reporter who seemed to be trying to portray the situation as ugly.
"The reporter was seen shouting, so much so the situation seemed unreal to the viewers."
He also criticised Al Jazeera for only interviewing journalists known to be pro-opposition but not getting the government's views.
-- BERNAMA
Malaysian Information Minister Zainuddin Maidin defends police action against protesters calling for changes to electoral process.
Zam Refutes Al Jazeera's Claim Police Used Force On Protesters
KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 10 (Bernama) -- Information Minister Datuk Seri Zainuddin Maidin has refuted satellite television station Al Jazeera's claim that police had used force on hundreds of protesters here today.
He told the station that police had tried to disperse the protesters by using water cannons as the gathering was illegal. "When they refused to disperse, the police allowed them to march to Istana Negara to hand over a memorandum demanding for a clean and fair election.
"The police managed to handle the situation as best they could," he said over the phone in a live interview by Al Jazeera here.
He was responding to the illegal assembly organised by the Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections or "Bersih" comprising 26 non-governmental organisations and which also involved opposition parties, to hand over the memorandum containing their demands, to Istana Negara.
Asked why Malaysia did not allow such gatherings, Zainuddin said they were unnecessary because general elections had been held without fail in this country and according to the scheduled dates.
The minister also hit out at Al Jazeera for having the wrong perception when posing questions.
Al Jazeera reporters had their own perceptions about Malaysia before coming here, he said, adding that "Malaysia is not Myanmar or Pakistan; it is a democratic country".
Zainuddin said many television viewers in Malaysia were laughing at the antics of the Al Jazeera reporter who seemed to be trying to portray the situation as ugly.
"The reporter was seen shouting, so much so the situation seemed unreal to the viewers."
He also criticised Al Jazeera for only interviewing journalists known to be pro-opposition but not getting the government's views.
-- BERNAMA