Malaysiakini
Volleys of tear gas were fired into the crowd minutes after Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim took the podium in a ceramah tonight at Bukit Selambau, Kedah.
According to eyewitnesses, the police fired tear gas and unleashed chemical-laced water on about 5,000 people who had gathered in a public field near the PKR election operation centre for the ceramah.
anwar ibrahim special briefing 280209The ceramah, which kicked off at 9.30pm, was to feature a number speeches by top Pakatan Rakyat leaders including Anwar.
“After a 10-minute introduction, Anwar went up on stage and in less than a minute after he started speaking, the police fired tear gas and doused the people with water,” said Saiful Izham, who is Bukit Selambau PKR election director and party’s supreme council member.