January 02, 2012
KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 2 — The undergraduate who was hospitalised after a student protest at Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI) in Tanjung Malim on Saturday night insisted today he was beaten up by police.
Safwan Anang told reporters after being discharged from Slim River hospital this afternoon that he was punched in the face and kneed in the ribs by policemen when trying to help a friend who was “being dragged” by police.
“I was not fighting with the police. I was trying to help a friend before I was beaten up,” the 23-year-old said after being brought out of the hospital in a wheelchair by his wife Masturah Abu Bakar. The Universiti Malaya student was allegedly assaulted and lost consciousness in the 2.30am fracas which saw 17 students arrested.
The Movement for Academic Freedom (Bebas) chairman said he would first lodge a police report and collect evidence before taking further action.
He also accused Perak police chief Datuk Mohd Shukri Dahlan of being prejudiced for claiming Safwan had “injured himself” before investigations were complete.
Mohd Shukri denied yesterday that police assaulted student activists during the peaceful demonstration at UPSI, saying there was “no scuffle” when arrests were made.
Safwan’s lawyer Mohd Khairuddin Othman also told The Malaysian Insider his client would take legal action as soon as possible, naming Mohd Shukri, the Inspector-General of Police and police officers involved in breaking up the protest as respondents.
Students and opposition politicians claimed several students involved in the demonstration for academic freedom were allegedly beaten up and arrested after refusing to heed a police order to disperse.
The demonstration followed widespread controversy after Adam Adli Abd Halim, a 21-year UPSI student, lowered a banner bearing the likeness of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak outside Umno’s headquarters here last month.
Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein also denied claims on Twitter that there was police brutality, saying they were untrue.
Safwan Anang told reporters after being discharged from Slim River hospital this afternoon that he was punched in the face and kneed in the ribs by policemen when trying to help a friend who was “being dragged” by police.
File photo of Safwan lying unconscious after the alleged beating by the police. — Picture courtesy of Solidariti Mahasiswa Malaysia
The Movement for Academic Freedom (Bebas) chairman said he would first lodge a police report and collect evidence before taking further action.
He also accused Perak police chief Datuk Mohd Shukri Dahlan of being prejudiced for claiming Safwan had “injured himself” before investigations were complete.
Mohd Shukri denied yesterday that police assaulted student activists during the peaceful demonstration at UPSI, saying there was “no scuffle” when arrests were made.
Safwan’s lawyer Mohd Khairuddin Othman also told The Malaysian Insider his client would take legal action as soon as possible, naming Mohd Shukri, the Inspector-General of Police and police officers involved in breaking up the protest as respondents.
Students and opposition politicians claimed several students involved in the demonstration for academic freedom were allegedly beaten up and arrested after refusing to heed a police order to disperse.
The demonstration followed widespread controversy after Adam Adli Abd Halim, a 21-year UPSI student, lowered a banner bearing the likeness of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak outside Umno’s headquarters here last month.
Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein also denied claims on Twitter that there was police brutality, saying they were untrue.
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