IGP blames Bersatu for forum fracas

Yasmin Ramlan Yasmin Ramlan Updated 6 years ago · Published on 16 Aug 2017 11:43AM · 2 Comments

Inspector-General of Police Khalid Abu Bakar says it is the responsibility of the Nothing to Hide 2.0 forum organisers to ensure the venue and event's security. – The Malaysian Insight file pic, August 16, 2017.

ORGANISERS of Sunday’s Nothing to Hide 2.0 forum that turned violent are responsible for the event’s safety and security, and should not blame others for causing the chaos, said Inspector-General of Police Khalid Abu Bakar.

He said the organisers were subject to the Peaceful Assembly Act, making them responsible for attendees’ safety.

“The Nothing To Hide event is governed by the act, which states that the organisers are in charge of the safety of those attending, and the security of the venue and the event.

“So, it is not good of them to blame the police and others. As the organisers, they should have stated the rules for those attending on what can or cannot be brought to the event, because the responsibility to ensure safety and security is theirs,” Khalid told reporters after an event at the Bukit Aman police headquarters today.

The forum was organised by opposition party Bersatu and was meant to be an open debate between its chairman, former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, and Prime Minister Najib Razak, who did not attend.

Dr Mahathir was onstage answering questions when shoes were thrown from the crowd in his direction.

Chaos then erupted, with water bottles, chairs and lit flares thrown around the hall as the crowd scrambled.

Khalid said the organisers should have referred to the act and consulted police before proceeding with the event.

Although police were present at the forum, he said, they were only stationed outside the hall as they had not been asked to be present inside.

“Police were not in charge of security at the event. Although officers were present outside the hall, we were not asked to go inside. We took charge of security outside the hall,” said Khalid.

The force has yet to call in the organisers, but the IGP said this would be done.

“At present, we are focusing on those who caused the disturbance. After that, we will call the organisers.

“The organisers should not think that they can get away with it.” – August 16, 2017.

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Comments

  • Hind sight are always 20/20 vision. Please lah do not be clownish as you are wearing a uniform and behave yourself as a top dog of police force for public safety. Did your police insist that it is mandatory that safety aspect are in compliance prior to issuing of permits for peaceful assembly . Voicing out obnoxiously as a child is an after effect without any positive contributions. You are not sloving the concerns but as a matter of fact an agitator and contributor to the problems. Stop wasting the tax payers money to your salary.

    Posted 6 years ago by Lee Lee · Reply

  • 'Bersatu man blames own party men for Nothing to Hide fracas

    A Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) leader yesterday claimed that the fracas at the ‘Nothing to Hide 2.0’ forum last Sunday was caused by party members themselves and that their anger was directed at him.

    Wan Mohammad Ashraf Nasjaruddin, Bersatu Shah Alam security director, also said that he had received death threats as well.

    He said he had lodged two police reports, one over the fracas and the other on the death threats.

    “I lodged the first police report because I want the police to investigate the fracas. A video clip of the forum shows that the chairs were hurled in my direction and not towards Bersatu chairperson Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

    “I suspect that those involved were from among the organising committee, secretariat and several Bersatu members themselves.

    “The chaos was triggered to prevent me from asking Dr Mahathir several other questions after those on the Memali incident were asked by others,” he said to reporters after lodging the reports at the Shah Alam Police headquarters.

    Wan Mohammad Ashraf said that following the fracas, he received death threats from unidentified individuals on the Bersatu Facebook account.

    The threats were also directed at his family and it was for safety reasons that he lodged the second police report, he said.


    Wan Mohammad Ashraf also called on Bersatu Youth chief Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman to resign, saying the latter had failed to ensure the security of guests at the forum.

    “I am prepared to remain in the party and challenge him until he resigns,” he said.

    The fracas erupted at 5.10 pm on Sunday when some people allegedly dissatisfied with the reply to questions directed at Dr Mahathir on the Memali incident of 1985 started throwing footwear, chairs and water bottles and traded punches.

    Eighteen people, four of them policemen, died in the Memali tragedy in Kedah on Nov 19, 1985, in a police operation to arrest a religious teacher, Ibrahim Mahmud, better known as Ibrahim Libya.'
    Source: https://www.malaysiakini.com/news/392191

    Posted 6 years ago by Cassius Pereira · Reply