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Friday, 6 February 2009

Perak: The political crisis

15:07
Even at the back of the mosque, the teargas overwhelms me. A woman opens the back door of the mosque and beckons me in. I dash in and I am overwhelmed with the fumes.
15:08
For a few minutes, I lie on the carpeted floor of the mosque in the midst of 40 Muslim women who are praying.
15:10
Minutes later, I feel better
15:12
A kindly elderly woman comes to me and offers me lumps of salt. "Makan ini," she says with concern. Then she offers me a drink.My eyes smart like hell and the fumes make it difficult to breathe.
15:14
The "treatment" works and I feel better. Inside the mosque, a woman next to me says, "Sepatutnya meraka tidak boleh tembak dekat masjid."Outside the police are firing teargas at people emerging from the mosque. It looks as if we are quarantined in the mosque.
15:16
A loud murmur of prayer fills the mosque. "Allah is great, Allhamdullilah!"
15:18
I feel outraged. How can they do this?
15:20
I am still inside the mosque with a fellow journalists, among all the women who are gathered in prayer. We are protected from the teargas for now. Police are just outside the premises of the mosque.
15:20
[Comment From Guest] get a cloth and put water.... it will help and poll water on your eye. this happen in Berish KL.
15:21
Inside the mosque, beyond the partition, a thousand men are gethered in prayer.
15:22
The halls reverbrate with chants of "Ameen!" as the imam leads the doa selamat.
15:26
Phew, this is an unbelievable experience. Now the prayer leader's tone turns mournful as if in grief. He continues to recite the doa selamat as he pleads to Allah to protect the people from oppression. Yes, Allah, please help the rakyat.
15:27
[Comment From balan] god is watching all this.
15:28
People are still taking shelter in the mosque as the cries of "Ameen!" grow louder.
15:29
A deafening roar of Takbir! followed by Allahu Akhbar! vibrates throughout the mosque.
15:31
The prayers are now over and some people are venturing out of the mosque.
15:34
Let me load a picture now to give you an idea of the scene outside the mosque earlier.
15:38
People are wondering if anyone has been arrested.
15:41
[Standby] Be back later
16:05
About nine people are believed to be arrested.
16:07
I ask a few FRU personnel if it is true that a few people are hurling stones at them.He says, "Yes, you can see those stones here on the road."I look at the road and see a few stones on the ground. I asked him if he knew who threw the stones.He doesn't know and nobody in the mosque seems to know either.
16:08
A Pas leader asks the crowd to disperse peacefully and people are now leaving. The convoy of police trucks as left as well.
16:09
[Comment From Hanif Yasin] Anil...I pray for your safety. Take care bro
16:09
[Comment From Dee] Angkat sumpah dah selesai. Simpati dgn warga Perak. Dari Sabah

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