Cops: Troublemakers will disrupt debate

Selangor police banned the debate between minister Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz and former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad because troublemakers were expected to disrupt the event.

"Police intelligence showed that there are certain parties who will be out to cause disruption on that date if the programme was to proceed," Selangor deputy police chief Mohd Fuad Abdul Latiff told reporters today.

This was among several reasons why the police had revoked their earlier approval for the event, scheduled to take place on April 7.

Debate organisers Sinar Harian claimed that the U-turn by the police came just 24 hours after providing a written consent for the event.

18 police reports

Mohd Fuad added that 18 police reports were lodged against the event.

The number of reports appear to be part of the reason why the police decided to bar the event from taking place.

"We began receiving reports against the event yesterday. At first, it was just one or two, so we said 'nevermind'.

"Unfortunately, the number of reports, as of this morning, have increased to 18," said Mohd Fuad.

Aside from residents of Shah Alam, Mohd Fuad said the reports were also made by individuals from Klang, Serdang, Petaling Jaya and as far as Hulu Selangor.

He said that the police were worried about public safety and could not risk jeopardising public order by allowing the dialogue to proceed.

Deliberate attempt to scuttle event?

Asked on the possibility that there was an organised effort to lodge police reports to prevent the event from happening, Mohd Fuad said some police reports had raised concern over public safety.

He said the police was initially open to the debate and had collaborated with the organisers to tighten security arrangements.

Shah Alam district police chief Shafien Mamat, who was also present during the press conference at Selangor police contingent headquarters, all relevant police reports were being investigated.

"We are in the process of collecting all informations. Investigations are being carried out under the Peaceful Assembly Act 2012," he said.

Last night, Mahathir had ridiculed the police for claiming that nearby residents were against the event, since the venue was in an industrial zone.

Sinar Harian had stated that they are no longer interested in hosting this event which has already been canceled twice. They had previously organised more than 40 dialogues or forums without any untoward incidents.

The Nazri-Mahathir debate was initially scheduled for March 25, but the police had prevented the event from happening, forcing Sinar Harian to postpone the event until April 7.- Mkini