Stern action to be taken against those behind violence at forum involving Mahathir, says Malaysia

Shoes or a water bottle were reportedly thrown at former Malaysian PM Mahathir Mohamad at the Nothing To Hide 2.0 forum on Sunday (Aug 13). PHOTO: THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK

KUALA LUMPUR (THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK) - Stern action will be taken against the culprits behind the violence at the Nothing to Hide 2.0 forum featuring Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, said Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

The Deputy Prime Minister, however, urged members of the public to allow the police to complete their investigations.

He said on Monday (Aug 14) that although there may be differences in opinion between political parties, aggression towards any individual or political leader should not happen.

"I am very saddened by the incident which happened during the forum. As a country that practices democracy, such an incident should not have happened," Dr Ahmad Zahid told reporters after launching the 37th World Congress of International Association for Hydro-Engineers and Research.

Sunday's forum descended into chaos when slippers, a shoe, bottles and a chair were thrown and two flares were flung into the crowd at Dewan Raja Muda Musa hall.

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

Shah Alam OCPD Assistant Commissioner Shafien Mamat confirmed that three men - aged 17, 18 and 19 - have been arrested over the incident.

Dr Ahmad Zahid, who is also the Home Minister, confirmed that organisers of the event had obtained approval from the relevant authorities to hold the event.

Meanwhile, Dr Mahathir will hit the road again on Friday (Aug 18) for the Save Malaysia, Save the People roadshow in Panang, unfazed by the violence that broke out at the Nothing to Hide Forum 2.0, The Malaysian Insight reported.

An aide to Dr Mahathir said the former prime minister and his wife, Dr Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali who was also at the forum , were well, according to The Malaysian Insight.

Dr Mahathir and his colleagues in the Pakatan coalition said they will not be intimidated by the violence at the forum. "Nothing has changed," the aide told The Malaysian Insight.

The former prime minister will attend the upcoming Save Malaysia, Save the People roadshow in Panang, to say what he has been saying for months: the Najib administration has to be brought down in the next election, the aide said.

Their campaign to explain to Malaysians the 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) scandal must go on, they said.

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