Nothing against police: Nazri

> Minister still wondering why debates with Tun M cancelled

KUALA LUMPUR: Tourism and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz said he has nothing against the police force, although he was baffled over the cancellation of the two planned debates with former premier Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

As a minister, Mohamed Nazri expressed his sadness that he was unable to debate Mahathir.

“If I were a leader from the Opposition (camp), I can understand the cancellation, but I am a minister.

“I’m not against the police; just that I was perplexed.

“Until I receive a reply, I am assuming that there was an instruction not to allow any debate involving me,” he told reporters following the National Transformation 2050 (TN50) “Culture and Heritage” dialogue session here yesterday.

Mohamed Nazri said this in response to a statement by Perak police chief Datuk Hasnan Hassan on Tuesday where he (Hasnan) called Nazri’s earlier claims as baseless and untrue and denied that police had instructed the public to lodge a report to stop the debate from happening.

Mohamed Nazri had earlier claimed that the proposed debates were cancelled after several Umno leaders were instructed by the police to lodge reports against them.

To date, he said the police have yet to inform him the reason behind the cancellation. “I am ready to debate at any time. “Some suggested that the debate be held in Los Angeles since it could not be held here,” he said jokingly.

The first debate was initially scheduled for March 25 at Kuala Kangsar but Perak police did not issue a permit for it.

The organiser, Kumpulan Media Karangkraf, had to cancel the debate, rescheduled to April 7 at its headquarters, the second time when Selangor police revoked the permit, citing security reasons.