Wednesday, June 13, 2012

RM56,000 of smoke in Bersih’s eyes

Source: http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2012/06/12/rm56000-of-smoke-in-bersihs-eyes/ (By Patrick Lee, 12/6/2012)
Nearly RM60,000 was spent on tear gas aimed at Bersih protesters this year.
A total of RM56,092.85 worth of tear gas was fired at protesters during the April 28 Bersih 3.0 rally.
In a written statement to Segambut MP (DAP) Lim Lip Eng, Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein said that 909 tear smoke shells (TSS) cost RM47,677.05, while the 58 tear smoke grenades (TSG) cost RM8,415.80. Broken down further, a TSS would cost RM52.45 each while a TSG would cost RM145.10 each.
The total number was nearly three times the amount spent to disperse protesters during the 2011 Bersih 2.0 rally, or RM22,885.76.
Back then, a TSS cost RM79.76 while a TSG cost RM145.10 each, with 226 and 36 shots fired respectively. Last year’s tear gas canisters were manufactured by the US-based ALS Technologies, a detail that was left out this year.

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