Liow lied through his teeth, says Pua

KUALA LUMPUR: DAP information chief Tony Pua has accused Health Minister Liow Tiong Lai of lying in his attempt to defend the police against allegations that they shot tear gas and chemical sprays into the Tung Shin Hospital last Saturday.

“Liow was lying through his teeth,” Pua said, referring to his statement that wind had blown the tear gas into the hospital and chemical-laced water only brushed the edges of the hospital walls as a result of police action against Bersih 2.0 supporters.

Liow, who is MCA’s deputy president, defended the police yesterday after meeting with hospital authorities.
Pua said in a statement today that there was “irrefutable and mounting visual evidence” to prove that Liow was lying.

“Liow has disgraced his position as health minister and MCA deputy president… for his pathetic and lame defence of the police force,” he said.

Pua was one of the marchers who fled into the hospital compound when police unleashed the tear gas and chemical-laced water.

“I can testify with absolute certainty that Liow was lying through his teeth,” he said. “It’s impossible that the police fired onto the main road as the road was already cleared of protesters by then, with everyone forced into the hospital compound.

“What’s more, there are scores of eyewitness testimonies, including those from journalists present, who corroborated that both the tear gas and water cannon were aimed into the hospital where the Bersih supporters were seeking refuge.”

He said Liow’s attempt to blame Bersih supporters for seeking refuge in the hospital was “mischievous”.
He added that the hospital compound was the only refuge available to demonstrators against police attack from both ends of Jalan Pudu.

“The visit by DAP leaders to the hospital the day after was to express our thanks and appreciation to the hospital management for letting the supporters seek refuge, to apologise for the inconvenience caused and to understand if there was any damage caused.”

He cited Liow’s attempt to defend the police as proof that “MCA is only an apologist for the BN coalition”.
He said Liow had “disgraced himself and his party for not having spoken up for Malaysians”.