The police instructed several Umno leaders in Padang Rengas to lodge reports that led to the cancellation of his debate with former prime minister Dr Mahathir

Tourism minister Nazri Abdul Aziz has claimed that the police instructed several Umno leaders in Padang Rengas to lodge reports that led to the cancellation of his debate with former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamed last month.

Speaking at an Umno Overseas Club alumni dinner function in Kuala Lumpur last night, the Padang Rengas MP said he was perplexed by the excuse of the police that the permits were denied on grounds of potential security concerns.

"I asked the police to see the reports. They did not show me, but I got them (the reports) anyway.




"All five reports were identical (in format) and have identical statements," Nazri, an Umno supreme council member, said.



From the five reports, Nazri further revealed that he discovered how an Umno branch leader, an Umno Youth leader and a village chief in his constituency were instructed by the police to lodge reports against the debate, which was initially scheduled to be held at Maktab Rendah Sains Mara in Kuala Kangsar on on March 25.

"All three of them, when I asked, why did you this? They said, 'the police instructed'.

"Do you (police) think this is a joke? How can it be that I, as a minister, if I debate with Mahathir, it could lead to a fight?" Nazri said...