Opposing sides pin the blame on Mahathir, Najib
Published on: Tuesday, August 15, 2017
Kuala Lumpur: Stern action will be taken against the culprits behind the violence at the Nothing to Hide 2.0 forum featuring Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, said Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.The Deputy Prime Minister, however, urged members of the public to allow the police to complete their investigations.He said that although there may be differences in opinion between political parties, aggression towards any individual or political leader should not happen.ADVERTISEMENT "I am very saddened by the incident which happened during the forum."As a country that practices democracy, such an incident should not have happened," Dr Ahmad Zahid told reporters after launching the 37th World Congress of International Association for Hydro-Engineers and Research on Monday.Dr Mahathir and the organiser of the forum must take full responsibility for the fracas, said Education Minister Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid.He said blaming others, specifically Umno and the Barisan Nasional, was irresponsible of them.ADVERTISEMENT Sunday's forum descended into chaos when slippers, a shoe, bottles and a chair were thrown and two flares were flung into the crowd at Dewan Raja Muda Musa hall.The session with Dr Mahathir, also the Pakatan Harapan Chairman, had to be halted abruptly after about 90 minutes when the former prime minister was answering a question on the 1985 Kampung Memali tragedy in Baling, Kedah.
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Shah Alam OCPD Asst Comm Shafien Mamat confirmed that three men — aged 17, 18 and 19 — have been arrested over the incident.Dr Ahmad Zahid, who is also the Home Minister, confirmed that organisers of the event had obtained approval from the relevant authorities to hold the event.PKR deputy president Datuk Seri Azmin Ali pinned the blame on Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak's absence from the event."I am sure that if he (Najib) had appeared, nothing would have happened. His security team will be in full force, and there will be screening to ensure the prime minister's safety," Azmin said.Three teenagers suspected of involvement in the fracas were allegedly paid RM50 each.The Malaysian Insight, citing sources close to police investigations, said the trio aged 17 to 19 were paid to attend the forum, and were part of a group that had gathered in Setiawangsa before the event began at about 4pm, in Shah Alam's Dewan Raja Muda Musa.It is believed the youths were given t-shirts bearing the PPBM logo.Two of the three suspects currently under a four-day remand, are students at a private college in Shah Alam, district police chief Shafien Mamat told a press conference.All three are being investigated under Section 15(2)d of the Peaceful Assembly Act, Section 153 of the Penal Code for rioting and Section 8 of the Corrosive and Explosive Substance and Offensive Weapons Act.According to the portal, police background checks on the trio found that one of them, aged 18, has a criminal record and is currently involved in an ongoing rape trial.PPBM President Tan Sri Muhyiddin said only mentally ill individuals would suggest that PPBM is behind the fracas."That was our function. We wanted to organise it in a proper manner. The only discontent expressed prior to the chaos was over Najib's absence."Anyone who suggests that we planned to create a commotion is mentally ill," he told a press conference.Sungai Besar Umno division chief Jamal Md Yunos had earlier today claimed to have evidence proving that the fracas was planned a month earlier by PPBM leaders.Mahathir himself had consented to it, claimed Jamal.Muhyiddin expressed disappointment over the growing "culture of gangsterism" such as displayed at the Nothing to Hide 2.0 forum.He, however, admitted that they should perhaps be more careful in future.Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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"We politicians can tell who the good ones are, and who the bad ones are," the former Deputy Prime Minister quipped, as he urged the authorities to play their role and ensure no such incident would recur.Muhyiddin also said PH leaders would not be cowed and would continue their fight to educate the public on the failures of the BN government.