NINETEEN people were injured when a storm toppled several tents at the Kedah PAS headquarters this evening where the party’s 63rd muktamar is being held. 

A PAS official confirmed that several people were injured, adding that the Fire Services Department and police were at the scene to carry out rescue work.

The others at the muktamar have now gathered in the main building. Several ambulances also rushed to the scene and the injured were taken to Hospital Sultanah Bahiyah in Alor Star.

Rawahah, 31, whose wife was injured said they were about to leave their stall when the tent collapsed.

“I was preparing to go for Maghrib prayers when the main tent suddenly collapsed and my tent fell over us. My wife’s leg was injured.

“She fell and I quickly pulled my wife out of the tent,” he said, still shaky from the incident.

He said fellow vendors near his stall have suffered broken legs and hands. 

Ahmad Jamil from Pokok Sena said he received a phone call about the incident after Maghrib, as his two daughters were vendors at the muktamar.

“I don’t know about my daughter’s injury. No one has updated me on her situation… I’m still waiting to see my daughter,” he said when met outside the emergency ward.

He said his injured daughter, Nur Fatihah, 19, had exams next Tuesday.

Another vendor who came all the way from Kuala Lumpur said the top of his tent dislodged during the storm.

“I was shocked and quickly ran out but some of my friends couldn’t run in time. There were many people under the tents.”

The Malaysian Insight’s attempts to get an official statement from the authorities were hindered by PAS’s security unit, Jabatan Amal, who said the authorities are unable to issue any statement on the incident. 

Jabatan Amal had also cordoned off the muktamar’s venue. 

In an immediate response, Parti Amanah Negara (Amanah) president Mohamad Sabu conveyed his condolences to the injured victims.

“I hope all the people of Kedah, especially PAS members gathered for the muktamar, will remain calm and I pray that everyone is safe.” – April 29, 2017.