Tear gas fired at crowd, 18 held

(The Star) SUNGAI PETANI: Police fired water cannons and tear gas to disperse a large crowd that had gathered at a PKR ceramah at Taman Ria Jaya here last night. It was learnt that the ceramah did not have a police permit.

Kedah PKR chairman Ahmad Kassim said police arrested 18 people including Senator Zambri Yusof, the former Kedah PKR chairman, PKR de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s special assistant Ibrahim Yaacob as well as one of Anwar’s bodyguards.

Police moved in with water cannons and tear gas after Anwar started speaking at the event at 9.50pm.

Anwar was there to launch the Kedah Wanita PKR operations centre for the Bukit Selambau by-election, which will be held on April 7.

Eye-witnesses said the rowdy crowd threw water bottles and other items at the police with some hurling abusive words.