Rahman, who is also Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, said that security issues should have been given priority because it involved leaders like Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia’s (PPBM) youth wing (Armada), as the event organiser, failed to ensure security for all parties involved, he said.

“It was the responsibility of Armada. If I am the organiser, I will check all the bags, one by one.

“Yet, a few could smuggle in flares to the event,” he said commenting on the fracas that erupted at the forum in Shah Alam, Selangor, yesterday.

The programme, that initially ran smoothly, had to be halted after flares, chairs, footwear and water bottles were thrown by members of the audience when Mahathir was responding to a question about the Memali tragedy that took place in 1985.

Speaking to the media after giving his mandate at the strategic cooperation meeting between the Economic Planning Unit and State Economic Planning Unit (UPE-Upen) here today, Rahman urged Selangor Menteri Besar Mohamed Azmin Ali to stop pointing fingers at Umno over the incident as the police investigation had yet to be completed.

“We all know that the meeting was very provocative in nature with questions asked by young people and the police also viewed that such a programme would invite problems.

“We leave it to the police to investigate. Only then will we give our comments,” he said.