About 3,000 reformasi supporters marched along Jalan Raja Laut to Dataran Merdeka in support of a police report lodged by Barisan Alternatif Youth leaders, alleging misuse of power on the part of former attorney-general Mohtar Abdullah.

Starting from the Jalan Dang Wangi police station where the report was lodged, the crowd initially numbered about 400.

This is the first demonstration to be held in the city. The last large-scale demonstration came on Aug 9 last year, the day former deputy prime minister Anwar Ibrahim was jailed for nine years after being tried and found guilty of sodomy.

Moving against traffic along the road, the crowd chanted, "reformasi, reformasi".

Police and the anti-riot unit, armed with tear gas and water cannon, kept a watchful eye on the crowd.

It is learnt that deputy city police chief Dell Akhbar Khan has told Keadilan Youth leader Mohamad Ezam Mohd Nor that the police would not "touch" the crowd.

Upon reaching Dataran Merdeka, Ezam informed the crowd about the police report, after which he told them to disperse. The demonstration was over in about an hour.

However, at the time this report is being filed, half the crowd are marching back to Jalan Raja Laut, led by Keadilan vice-president Tian Chua, and being met by riot police.