An estimated 25,000 people had gathered in downtown Kuala Lumpur yesterday demanding electoral reforms, and police resorted to firing tear gas and chemical-laced water after protesters broke through the barricades to enter the Independence Square, defying a venue ban.
Charges have not yet been filed against them.
The NGO Bersih, which organised the rally, wants the government to review the country's election system and clean up the electoral roll before the next elections, that are expected to be announced soon.
Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin said today that prominent ethnic Indian lawyer, S Ambiga, who is the Bersih organiser, and the opposition must take responsibility for allowing a peaceful gathering to turn violent.
Describing what happened as regrettable, he said Ambiga, as the main organiser of the rally, must also face the law for the resulting damage to property and policemen being injured.
"Yesterday's riots were uncalled for. The opposition must be held responsible for that.
"Ambiga should not be allowed to walk away from taking responsibility because she was the main organiser. So, we will leave it to the authorities to take the appropriate action against her. We are not trying to restrain her freedom. We already gave her that," he said.
The minister said yesterday's events had caused uneasiness and anger among the public.
"Unfortunately, the rally turned out not the way Ambiga had wanted. She lost control of the situation. The rally was clearly hijacked by opposition," he said.
He said the people should judge themselves the "dirty tactics" of the opposition in masterminding the rally, and the refusal to accept an alternative venue as offered by the government.
He said allegations that the election system in this country was not transparent are not true, as members of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Electoral Reforms also comprises opposition members of Parliament, state-run Bernama news agency said.
