COCK & BULL STORY FROM ZAHID? Cops received info of 'unwanted' incidents at Najib forum

PUTRAJAYA - Police received early reports that there would be unwanted incidents at the “Nothing2Hide” dialogue with non-governmental organisations (NGOs,) Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said today.

He said Inspector-General of Police Khalid Abu Bakar made the decision based on security considerations following early information received.

“The prime minister (Najib Abdul Razak) was disappointed that the dialogue was cancelled.

“The prime minister was committed (to attend it) but the police were of the opinion that he should not be present for security reasons,” he told reporters after a meeting with hadith ulamas, here, today.

On the organisers’ action of opening the hall to the public although the dialogue was cancelled and police stopping former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad half-way through his speech at the event, Zahid said the IGP would explain the matter at a press conference later.

“This is because I only touch on policy matters. As for operations, I leave it to the heads of department under my ministry,” he said.

The Prime Minister’s Office on its Facebook page today informed that Najib did not attend the dialogue at the Putra World Trade Centre (PWTC) due to security factors, on the advice of the IGP.

The dialogue programme, organised by Sukarelawan Peguam Malaysia (SukaGuam), was scheduled for 10am, where representatives of NGOs, activists and members of the public could ask Najib on various topics, including controversial issues like 1MDB and the purchase of a piece of land by Tabung Haji.

However, at 10.30am, the organisers cancelled the dialogue after a commotion occurred outside Dewan Tun Hussein Onn, PWTC, with one person reportedly arrested by police.

– BERNAMA