A youth leader told the Human Rights Commission (Suhakam) inquiry today that the participants of the 100,000 People's Gathering on Nov 5 were not given a proper warning to disperse when the Federal Reserve Unit (FRU) charged forward at the crowd.

"Water containing chemical irritants was sprayed at us and everyone ran in the opposite direction. The FRU marched forward firing tear gas at the same time; they gave no warning," said PAS youth chief Mahfuz Omar.

The three-member Suhakam panel, headed by former judge Anuar Zainal Abidin, is investigating allegations of police brutality at a reformasi gathering along the Kesas highway on Nov 5 which was attended by about 10,000 people.

Mahfuz said that he first met the leaders of Keadilan, PRM and DAP at a rest-stop at Awan Besar before proceeding to the Kota Kemuning toll, an exit leading to the scheduled gathering place of Jalan Kebun.

"The FRU personnel were already lined up at the toll plaza. We were 100m away from the toll with our supporters. The BA leaders gave speeches asking supporters to disperse.

"Lokman Nor Adam, chairperson of the gathering's organising committee, announced that the crowd should disperse but decided that four representatives, including Keadilan Youth chief Mohamad Ezam Mohd Nor, lawyer Zainur Zakaria and PRM Youth chief Faisal Sanusi, be sent to negotiate with the police to let people through.

"Before we could step forward, the FRU sprayed us with the chemicals," Mahfuz said.

Crowd size

Anuar then asked Mahfuz how serious the after effects of the chemical spray were.

"My joints became weak, and my mind was clouded when sprayed upon," said Mahfuz who is also a Member of Parliament for Pokok Sena.

Asked on the size of the crowd present on that day, Mahfuz replied, "It was more than 10,000."

However, he did not say anything when queried as to how long it would take to disperse a crowd of 10,000 people.

Another witness, malaysiakini journalist Susan Loone, estimated that it would take a half hour, adding however that it was impossible then due to the massive jam on the highway that day.

Anuar is being assisted in the inquiry by Simon Sipaun, chairperson of the Sabah Civil Service Commission, and Prof Mehrun Siraj, who is the former dean of Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia's Law Faculty.