Without naming names, Lim said they should have intervened right away and “restrained” the assailant.
Teo was slapped by actor-comedian Sulaiman Yassin during the TN50 dialogue held at Seri Perdana, after he ticked off the moderator for overlooking those seated at the back during a Q&A session with the prime minister.
“There is no excuse for violence,” Lim said, adding that those standing close to Teo should have intervened and stopped Sulaiman from slapping the filmmaker.
“This is something unfortunate that could have been avoided,” he said when asked to comment on the incident.
Lim also advised Teo to lodge a police report on the incident right away so that action could be taken.
“I would have lodged a police report,” he added.
Lim said the assailant’s actions were also disrespectful to the prime minister.
“It appears the only solution if you can’t win an argument is to use violence, and that is wrong. It is a sad reflection of an open season where you can use violence on certain Malaysians and this is wrong.
“Everyone should be treated with respect and dignity. In Malaysia, whatever the reasons you might have, you cannot use violence and that is wrong and a criminal offence,” Lim said.
Meanwhile, Penang executive councillor Jagdeep Singh Deo said the prime minister should be a witness to the case.
“I think it is very important that a police report be lodged because the witness to this case is Najib Razak.
“A police report should be lodged and Najib should be called to court. He should stand as a witness and testify to this unbecoming behaviour that the whole country has witnessed,” Jagdeep said at the same press conference.