Why the fracas?

KUALA LUMPUR: Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the use of force or violence against any i ndividual i s not acceptable.

Commenting on the violence during the “Nothing to Hide” forum f e a t uri ng Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad on Sunday, Ahmad Zahid said “even if there are differences of opinion, there should not be use of force against any individual or leader”.

“I a m s a ddened by what happened. This should not have happened in a democratic country,” he said after opening the 37th World Congress of the International Association for Hydro-Environment E n g i n e e r i n g a n d Res e a r c h yesterday.

Ahmad Zahid, who is also home minister, said he had instructed the police to conduct investigations and take appropriate action, including prosecution, if there was wrongdoing by anyone.

“I am not aware of who i s responsible for the incident. Let the police investigate,” he said, adding that he did not know if Umno members or outsiders were involved.

He said every person and political

party must comply with the Peaceful Assembly Act when holding an event.

In a democratic country, people have the right to assemble, he said, adding that the Nothing to Hide forum had been approved by police.

The event plunged into chaos when slippers, a shoe, bottles and a chair were thrown about and two flares flung into the crowd at the Selangor Youth and Culture Complex.

The session featuring Mahathir, who is the Pakatan Harapan chairman, had to be halted abruptly after about 90 minutes as the former prime minister was answering a question on the 1985 Kampung Memali tragedy in Baling, Kedah.

Meanwhile, Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia refuted claims by an Umno leader that the incident was an “inside job”.

Party president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said such claims were “ridiculous” as the organisers would always want to ensure the safety of those attending the forum.

“Why would we create havoc at our own event?”