PPBM Youth says it rescued suspects from forum chaos

In police report filed over violence and chaos at Nothing to Hide 2.0 forum in Shah Alam, Armada info chief says two young men were rescued from 'being roughed up'.

PETALING JAYA: PPBM Youth lodged a police report last night claiming its members had tried to save suspected troublemakers at the Nothing to Hide 2.0 forum from being beaten up.

The wing’s information chief Ulya Aqamah Husamudin said amid the chaos that broke out at the forum, the party members had spotted two young men wearing “fake” PPBM Youth t-shirts being roughed up.

“We took the suspects into the VVIP room to rescue them and prevent any further commotion outside,” Ulya had said in the police report sighted by FMT.

He added that there was another incident inside the hall, where a shirtless young man was also being roughed up. The third suspect too, was “rescued” by PPBM Youth members, and handed over to the police.

Shah Alam district police chief Shafien Mamat said last night that three teens aged 17 to 19 were detained following a fracas at the event, which featured former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad and which was attended by opposition leaders and supporters.

Mahathir, who is now the chairman of opposition coalition Pakatan Harapan, was answering questions at the “Nothing to Hide 2.0” forum when a couple of projectiles were hurled in his direction.

Moments later, flares were also seen flying across the Dewan Raja Muda Musa hall causing the venue to be filled with smoke. Punches were said to have been traded as PPBM members rushed on to the stage to protect the 92-year-old leader.

In what appeared to be a case of mob justice, a group of more than 10 men clad in red PPBM shirts chased after one of the suspected troublemakers in the hall, punched him repeatedly before pushing him into a room which was then locked from the inside.

PPBM Youth chief Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman

PPBM Youth chief Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman said he was unaware of the incident, but said the party would not tolerate any act of “vigilante justice”.

Meanwhile Ulya, in the same police report, said he had seen a group of teenagers in “fake” PPBM Youth t-shirts gathering outside the hall before the forum started.

“But we gave them a chance to enter (the hall), based on our open policy so everyone gets to pose their questions to Tun Mahathir.”

The event went well for about one and a half hours, before some attendees threw bottles, slippers, and chairs in Mahathir’s direction, he added.

“It was clear that the provocation was initiated by the group clad in fake PPBM Youth t-shirts,” said Ulya.

The forum was organised by PPBM Youth for Mahathir to openly respond to criticisms made against him.

Prime Minister Najib Razak, who was also invited to debate Mahathir and field questions, did not show up. - Mkini