Former Malaysian prime minister Mahathir Mohamad, who is locked in a bitter dispute with the new government, was attacked with pepper spray yesterday, his spokesman said.
Mahathir was assaulted as he was about to address a crowd of 1,500 people shortly after arriving in eastern Kelantan state for a political tour.
"He had just arrived and was about to give a speech to a crowd of 1,500 of his supporters, who had gathered at the airport," Rano Othman from the Kelantan Police Operations unit said.
"He had just begun to speak when he smelled something gassy, he then started to cough and could not go on with his speech. He climbed into a car waiting for him and went back to the hotel," he said.
Deputy Police Chief Musa Hassan said the culprit had been identified but did not say who the person was or whether he had been apprehended.
"Investigations are being carried out now. We have identified who the culprit is. I urge all parties to remain calm," he said.
Mahathir's spokesman Sufi Yusoff said the feisty 81-year-old political veteran was not injured in the attack.
"No he's fine. We're leaving it to the cops to investigate," he said.
The Pan-Malaysia Islamic Party (PAS) rules the conservative northeastern state of Kelantan in Malaysia's Muslim heartland, the only state that remains in its control.
Mahathir has been accused of fomenting a split in the ruling United Malays National Organization (UMNO) with strident attacks on the new administration that have raised fears of political instability.
Mahathir's visit to Kelantan had been in doubt because some local UMNO politicians objected in the wake of the feud with his hand-picked successor Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, who he now says he regrets appointing. UMNO figures in Kelantan had urged both PAS and the National Front coalition which rules nationally to treat Mahathir with respect during the visit.
Abdullah said he had ordered police to conduct an immediate investigation into the incident and to take "stern action" against those responsible.
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