Three more men held over fracas at forum

KUALA LUMPUR: Police have detained three more men in connection with the fracas at the Nothing to Hide 2.0 forum in Shah Alam and will question the organisers as well, said Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar.

This brings the number of arrests to 13.

While no action has been taken on the organisers yet, the Inspector-General of Police said they were not “off the hook”.

“We will take action on the organisers because they did not comply with stipulations under the Peaceful Assembly Act (PAA) 2012.

“Don’t think they can escape just like that. They must understand the rules and regulations when organising an event.

“If they don’t understand the rules, then discuss with the police,” he said after the handing over ceremony for the Bukit Aman Narcotics Crime Investiga­tion Department director’s post yesterday.

Outgoing director Comm Datuk Seri Mohd Mokhtar Mohd Shariff handed over the reigns to Deputy Comm Datuk Kang Chez Chiang, who is assuming the post on an acting capacity.

Khalid also slammed the organiser for blaming the police for the fracas at Sunday’s event.

“Under the PAA, the responsibility to maintain the safety of the participants and the location falls on the organiser. It is unfair to blame the police,” he said, adding that police were stationed outside the hall where the event was held.

Commenting on the plan by Sungai Besar Umno division chief Datuk Seri Jamal Yunos and his supporters to host their own version of Nothing to Hide, Khalid said they should be mindful of the regulations stipulated in the PAA.

On Tuesday, 10 men were held over the commotion at the forum, which featured Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia chairman Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, at the Dewan Raja Muda Musa hall in Shah Alam. A chair, slipper, shoe and flares were thrown from the crowd.

In another development, Shah Alam Pribumi committee member Wan Mohammad Ashraf Nasjarud­din claimed that the items hurled were meant for him.

Speaking to reporters after making two reports at the Shah Alam police station, Wan Moham­mad said he was the target and not Dr Mahathir.

He claimed the attack was meant to stop him from asking more questions.

“I believe it was a well-planned strategy to silence me,” he said.

He said he had wanted to ask Dr Mahathir about the welfare of Pribumi’s grassroots members, which he claims has been neglected.

In Kota Baru, PAS asked for a Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) into the Memali tragedy that occurred in Kedah more than three decades ago.

PAS vice-president Datuk Mohd Amar Nik Abdullah said it was high time an independent investigation was carried out to uncover the truth behind the tragedy that had taken a toll on the police as well as civilians.

“With an RCI, we can resolve this case once and for all. No more pointing fingers based on perception,” he said.