KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia: The city centre was plunged into chaos by the protest yesterday, with protesters gathering at various places and police firing tear gas and water cannons.

Many shops had to pull down the shutters and with Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman closed to traffic, many businesses claimed to be badly affected.

However, tourists and curious onlookers had a fun time, walking in the middle of the road and taking photographs.

The protesters, however, came prepared for the tear gas. As soon as they were hit by the tear gas, the coughing and choking protesters were handed water to wash their faces and table salt to put in their mouths. This immediately helped relieve the burning sensation caused by the tear gas.

Those who ran away from the tear gas onslaught quickly regrouped at Jalan Kinabalu and chanted slogans. Some protesters were seen throwing water bottles at FRU personnel.

The LRT trains were not allowed to stop at the Masjid Jamek and Bandaraya stations and commuters were told to get off at Dang Wangi or KL Sentral stations at about 3.10pm.

Meanwhile, at Sogo, people were seen fainting. Medical personnel rushed in to help them and transport them out in ambulances.

Those stuck inside shopping complexes along Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman called the media, complaining they could not get out. Shoppers trapped inside Sogo were seen rushing out the back entrance of the complex at around 4.45pm.

A Proton Waja parked along Jalan Dang Wangi had its front windscreen smashed after a gas canister went through it.

Until around 6pm, FRU personnel were firing rounds of tear gas and water cannons.

But they too, were human and had to eat. Some FRU personnel were seen buying keropok lekor from roadside peddlers in the back alleys near Jalan Dang Wangi. -The Star/ANN