Opposition calls for action against culprits

PETALING JAYA: The Opposition wants action to be taken against those responsible for the fracas at the “Nothing to Hide 2.0” forum in Shah Alam.

Pakatan Harapan de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said the Government had the responsibility to ensure that Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s right and freedom to give his opinions were maintained.

“We urge the Government to take strict action against the perpetrators,” he said in a statement yesterday.

Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin claimed the troublemakers, who caused a ruckus at the forum in Shah Alam on Sunday, were bent on causing hurt to Dr Mahathir.

Muhyiddin claimed that the projectiles thrown, such as chairs and slippers, were aimed at Dr Mahathir with the intent to injure him.

“I was there from the beginning until the pandemonium erupted. I’m disappointed at the intolerance and disrespect shown towards the forum,” he told a press conference here yesterday.

He also rubbished claims by Sungai Besar Umno chief Datuk Seri Jamal Md Yunos that the chaos was engineered by Pribumi itself.

“There’s no way we would have planned such a thing.

“Anyone who would do so would have to be crazy and irrational,” he added.

He admitted that Pribumi needed to be more careful in terms of security matters in future party events.

PAS secretary-general Datuk Takiyuddin Hassan said the incident had no place in Malaysia’s culture and called on the public to avoid racial politics, making enemies or exaggerating a problem which could be resolved in a peaceful and harmonious manner.

PKR deputy president Datuk Seri Azmin Ali said the way to change Malaysia was through a clean and peaceful general election.

“We do not agree with organised violence as a method,” he said.

In George Town, DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng said the incident should not have occurred.

“We did not expect that there would be irresponsible people who would try to hurt Dr Mahathir.

“How can a 92-year-old be such a threat? Fortunately, he was not injured,” he said.

Parti Amanah Negara president Mohamed Sabu called for immediate action by the authorities to restore the rakyat’s confidence in the nation’s democratic process that was marred by violence.

“If there is any party wanting to stop a ceramah or dialogue, it must be done by the authorities and not by the public,” he said.

Electoral watchdog Bersih 2.0 said violent behaviour in the local political scene should not be condoned or it might set the tone for the next general election.

It called on the Government to end such behaviour.