Various quarters have condemned last night's violence at the Nothing to Hide 2 forum, particularly provocation against a former prime minister and his wife.
"The events at the forum were not normal. No sane person can justify brawls and the setting off flares at public forums for whatever reason.
"Also, the actions of the perpetrators were an act of gross disrespect to Dr Mahathir Mohamad, as well as to his wife, Dr Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali.
"The perpetrators and their confederates should be ashamed of themselves," said PKR Youth chief Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad in a statement.
He condemned the incident, saying regardless of political orientation, everyone has a right to take part in public gatherings "without fearing for their safety".
"The police must conduct a thorough investigation into the incidents and take stern action against the perpetrators without fear or favour," he said.
The forum yesterday was organised by Umno splinter party Bersatu, which is now part of the opposition front.
It was meant as an avenue for Prime Minister Najib Razak, who was invited to attend, to explain the scandal surrounding the debt-ridden 1MDB, which is currently linked to money laundering probes in numerous countries abroad.
The event, which started at 3pm, descended into chaos at around 5.30pm when Mahathir was addressing the crowd.
'Unbecoming of civilised society'
Meanwhile "Persatuan Progresif India Malaysia" (Mipas) secretary-general S Barathidasan said the incident was "saddening" and raised concerns about security in the country.
"(Particularly) when a leader who is respected and who is a prominent personality that is known to all, whether at home or abroad - Mahathir - can have a chair, shoe and water bottle thrown at the stage he is on," he said in a statement.
"Mipas views the incident as most regrettable, where it is not only the culture or behaviour of Malaysians who are rich in courtesy but one that practices a culture of tolerance and which practices the esteemed values of a highly civilised society.
"Even if we do not like someone, or who hold anger and hatred towards one, let's not go to the extent of throwing chairs and shoes and so on at that person," he said.
Sadly, said Barathidasan, there are those who have been influenced by what they have heard to the point "they forget, this is 2017 and not 1967."
He echoed Nik Nazmi's call for the police to investigate where the provocateurs had come from and who had allegedly "planned and paid them to cause disruption" at the event. - Mkini
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