The party’s strategy director, Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad, said police must immediately probe and apprehend the culprits.
“Pointing fingers at any specific group or party is uncalled for at this juncture but it is urgent for the police to immediately investigate and apprehend the culprits and perhaps the real ‘masterminds’ of this dastardly and cowardly act of subversion,” he told FMT today.
Three youths, aged between 17 and 19, were detained by Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (PPBM) members at the Nothing to Hide forum in Shah Alam yesterday.
The forum ended abruptly after projectiles, including one laced with chemicals, were hurled at Pakatan Harapan chairman Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who had just finished answering a question from the floor.
Violence erupted as supporters rushed to the stage to protect the 92-year-old former prime minister. Punches were traded and chairs went flying.
PPBM Youth head Syed Saddiq Abdul Rahman has not ruled out the involvement of infiltrators who came to the event wearing “fake” PPBM T-shirts.
Other opposition leaders have also accused pro-Umno elements of disrupting the event.
Dzulkefly further questioned if this was the trend to come, on the verge of the “mother of all elections”.
“Surely it is meant to intimidate and demoralise those seeking a meaningful change and democratic contest of ideas through debate and dialogue.
“The public is hugely in need of information to make ‘informed decisions’, given the many contradicting and contested views to the critical and perennial problems of the nation.
“These include the cost of living, corruption and embezzlement, epitomised by 1MDB, unemployment of youths and graduates, and affordable housing woes,” he said.
Dzulkefly noted that the denial of these platforms of expression in public spheres was the “ultimate objective of the masterminds of these crooks and hooligans”.
He feared that police may not consent to or provide permits for such events, as security and peace could not be ascertained or maintained.