Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad should take responsibility for the incident involving police brutality last night at his parliamentary constituency in Kubang Pasu, said Keadilan Youth chief Mohamad Ezam Mohd Nor today.

Ezam claimed that tear gas and acid water were sprayed onto the crowd, numbering 15,000 to 20,000, who had come to listen to a ceramah held by the opposition party in Kampung Lahar, Mukim Malau, Jitra.

Kampung Lahar, an Umno stronghold, falls within Mahathir's parliamentary constituency of Kubang Pasu.

"Kubang Pasu Keadilan chief Onn Yusof was arrested but released this morning without any charge, while another was hospitalised in Jitra hospital. Many more suffered from suffocation and breathing difficulties," said Ezam.

Ezam added that Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi should also take responsibility because the police comes under the Home Ministry, which Abdullah oversees.

According to the Keadilan Youth chief, the organisers had applied for a police permit 14 days before the event, but it was not approved.

"This was despite the fact that the organisers had provided a location of suitable size (five acres) on a private piece of land that fulfills all the security aspects," said Ezam.

The organisers went ahead with the event as they believed it is their right to hold the ceramah as long as it is on a private land.

Umno members crossover

"The event was special as we were announcing that 300 Umno members of Umno Kubang Pasu had crossed over to Keadilan. The ceramah started at 9.15pm and there were seven FRU trucks and two water cannons at the site.

Ezam related that after a few short speeches by the Kedah state Keadilan vice-chairman and PAS member of parliament Mohamed Sabu, OCPD Abu Talib went on stage asking the crowd to disperse within 30 minutes.

Then, Lunas state assemblyman Saifuddin Nasution spoke for 20 minutes. The FRU had then begun to move forward.

The organisers were at this point issued with a summon by the police for defying orders.

"I went on stage and barely 10 minutes later, the FRU warned the crowd to disperse. About five minutes after that, the acid water was sprayed three times along with tear gas. I do not know how many more was fired as I lost count.

"People ran helter skelter to the padi fields nearby to get water. The level of acid in the water was really high.

"The acid water spray pressure was so strong that the stage almost collapsed and the zinc roofs were flying off," said Ezam, who was rescued by villagers.

Excessive force

Saying that this is the first time the police had used such excessive force to disperse a crowd at a ceramah , Ezam said the police would normally only summon the organisers.

"This is extreme force and exceeds the limit. The fact the incident happened in the PM's constituency itself proves how desperate Mahathir is," said Ezam, who claimed Mahathir's attitude of using force on his own constituents as an insane act.

"It is clear that an insane leader is dangerous to the nation. The inconvenience to the Kubang Pasu people, especially women, children and old folks cannot be forgiven.

"The Keadilan Youth movement will compile all evidence in the form of photographs and video recordings that will reveal last night's police brutality," said Ezam.

Suhakam to be informed

A report with Human Rights Commission (Suhakam) will also be lodged once all evidence has been collected.

Ezam said that Keadilan will go on a road show nationwide and internationally to "seriously disseminate information" on last night's incident.

"The international community will be told of the danger this country is in, being led by a prime minister and deputy prime minister who will resort to anything to stay in power.

"We had 300 crossing over from Umno to Keadilan yesterday. After the incident, I think we have thousands more," said Ezam.

Mahathir won the Kubang Pasu seat against a PAS candidate in the 1999 general elections with a reduced majority of 10,000 from 17,000 in 1995.