KUALA LUMPUR: Bersih 4 organiser raised suspicions on an alleged act of sabotage after 13 people suffered food poisoning after they apparently drank free fruit juice packets with puncture marks.
Bersih chairperson Maria Chin Abdullah said its medical team spotted the drink, which were distributed to supporters during Saturday's rally, as having needle holes on the packets.
The 13 people who suffered food poisoning were said to have drank from the packets after they was given out for free by unknown individuals.
None of them required hospitalisation but were treated at a local clinic in the city.
"It looks like sabotage. It is disgusting! This is about people's lives.
"I condemned whoever was giving out these packets and I urge supporters to not accept any free drinks that are being given out during the rally," she said.
Maria said supporters should only take the bottled water given out by official Bersih 4 volunteers.
The rally's medical team lodged a police report following the incident.
KL criminal investigation department chief Senior Asst Comm Datuk Zainuddin Ahmad confirmed receiving the report and said that police were looking into the matter.
Bersih 4 medical team coordinator Tan Genta said three more people were down with food poisoning on Sunday but were treated at their base in Dataran Merdeka, here.
He said those who may have drank from the contaminated food packets may experience stomach discomfort, burning sensations, nausea and vomiting.
"If you have these symptoms please report to the medical tents in your area.
"I don't want to speculate on what could have been in the drinks. We leave it to the police to investigate," he said.
The medical team will be on duty until 9am on National Day.
Press Statement:
Contaminated drinks an act of sabotage - The Coalition for Clean and Fair Election (BERSIH 2.0) condemns the insidious act where boxes of juices offered to the public during the Bersih 4 peaceful assembly yesterday night under the guise of "support for BERSIH" had been contaminated.
These drinks have caused participants to have stomach pains, vomiting and diarrhea. This seems to be an act of sabotage and an attempt to poison our participants, who have since been given medical attention and taken to the hospital.
We urge the police to investigate this as soon as possible and bring the culprits to justice. Police reports have been made.
We also advice all participants to not accept any free drinks distributed by people not authorized by the Bersih 4 organizing committee.
If they do, we advise them to check the top seam of the packet drinks for puncture holes, and if found, immediately report it to the security unit. Attached is a video by our medical team coordinator, Mr Tan Gengta of the packet drinks in question.
MARIA CHIN ABDULLAH
Chairperson of BERSIH 2.0 Steering Committee
Video: https://www.facebook.com/gengta/videos/10153567565334732/
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