Dr M Barred From Speaking At 'Nothing2Hide': Here's What Exactly Happened
The much anticipated “Nothing2Hide” dialogue scheduled to take place this morning was disrupted after an early morning tweet by Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar who ordered the event to be cancelled in the interest of national security and harmony.
By Sadho Ram — 21 Jul 2015, 10:20 AM
Lim Kok Wing quits after a brief stint as Najib's PR adviser
Tan Sri Lim Kok Wing, whose appointment as Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s public campaign coordinator caused a stir, resigned from the position earlier this month. It is understood that the advertising man's short-lived career as Najib's adviser ended in early July after he tendered his resignation.
This comes even as the embattled prime minister struggles to boost his dwindling support over issues related to the controversial 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB), the channelling of funds into his personal accounts and growing calls for him to step down over the matter.
themalaysianinsider.com
Lim was on May 22 announced as Najib’s “special programme coordinator” tasked with drawing plans to build support for the prime minister among the public. His appointment, believed to be to help burnish Najib’s image, was announced amid the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) crisis, which has put the embattled prime minister under the spotlight for alleged corruption.
themalaymailonline.com
27 JUNE: Man behind the controversial 'Nothing2Hide' forum quits all Umno posts
Khairul Anwar Rahmat, the organiser of the aborted Nothing2Hide dialogue, has announced that he is stepping down from all Umno posts.
Khairul, who is Kluang Umno Youth chief, Johor Umno Youth vice-chief and head of the Umno legal secretariat, confirmed his resignation from his party posts effective July 11 in a statement early this morning.
Former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad being told to stop his speech at the botched Nothing2Hide forum on 5 June organised by Umno's legal bureau chief secretary Datuk Khairul Anwar Rahmat in his capacity as chairman of NGO SukaGuam.
Image via The Malaysian InsiderA statement issued by his law firm Khairul Group said that its chairman will quit party posts effective July 11 in order to focus on expanding the group's business interests regionally.
The statement said that the firm will focus on expanding their interests in Western Asia and Europe, an ambition that was put on the back burner due to Khairul's active participation in politics.
Khairul is also chairman of NGO SukaGuam, the organiser of the botched forum, which Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak did not attend due to "security concerns".
themalaysianinsider.com
“I made my decision after receiving blessings from my parents and after extensive discussion with family members. I hope that my decision has been guided by Allah and will be well received by my colleagues," he said.
malaysiakini.com15 JUNE: Lim Kok Wing knew nothing about "Nothing2Hide" public dialogue
Public relations coordinator for the prime minister, Tan Sri Lim Kok Wing, today denied any involvement in the botched "Nothing to Hide" forum on 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) where Datuk Seri Najib Razak was a no-show.
The advertising man took to his Twitter account to dissociate himself from the event on June 5 which police halted, citing a security threat.
"Let me to say this again: Fact: I had nothing to do with 'Nothing to hide' forum.
"Fact: I knew nothing about it until I read about it," Lim tweeted today.
themalaysianinsider.com
“So much lying and insulting. So much slandering and poisoning. Some are there just to destroy. Read their postings. You’ll see through them,” he said in another tweet but did not elaborate on what he meant.
themalaymailonline.com
Earlier on 5th June, supposed to be a no holds barred dialogue on 1MDB with PM Najib at the Putra WTC in KL with Dr M present there, the event dubbed "Nothing2Hide" was, however, cancelled following the police orders, citing "public safety and harmony"
The scheduled Nothing2Hide dialogue between Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and NGOs on the subject of 1MDB has been cancelled following a Twitter message by the Inspector General of Police saying it would not allow it.
In his tweet at about 8.50am, Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar said the event was cancelled on orders from police due to public safety.
His tweet read:
Najib, who was scheduled to attend the event, pulled out from making an appearance at the last minute when his #1 critic, Dr M, decided to take to the stage. Several minutes into his speech, police forced the 89-year-old to stop, angering his supporters.
Dr Mahathir Mohamad was 10 minutes into his speech at the 1MDB forum at the Putra World Trade Centre today when a group of uniformed policemen interrupted him.
Image via The Malaysian Insider“This is not about Najib and me, this is about all of us. About the thing that belongs to all of us,” the country’s longest-serving prime minister said, referring to the 1MDB scandal.
But half way through, police immediately came up the stage and told Dr Mahathir to stop. At this point the crowd responded angrily, hurling shouts towards the police and warned them against hurting Dr Mahathir.
themalaymailonline.com
Dr M told reporters minutes after he was barred by police from speaking at the event that he came to listen to the prime minister's explanation. However, his no-show means that he lost an opportunity to state his case and garner more support for himself.
"He lost an opportunity to win over support for himself, to explain everything... that no money is missing, what Arul said is true," he said in referring to 1MDB's president Arul Kanda Kandasamy. "He had that opportunity but he missed that opportunity."
Najib did not show up at the highly anticipated forum which would have featured both Dr Mahathir and the prime minister addressing the same issue at a same venue for the first time.
themalaysianinsider.com
Police interfering as Dr Mahathir was adressing the Nothing2Hide forum at Putra World Trade Centre in Kuala Lumpur.
Image via Choo Choy MayDr M, however, remained in his light-hearted mood, jokingly saying he was told to stop talking because the audience was too noisy
When asked what was the reason given by the police, Mahathir jokingly replied: "They said you guys (press) were too noisy." However, the police allowed Mahathir to speak to the press, where he said Najib had missed an opportunity to redeem his support.
Dr Mahathir Mohamad said there was no reason for anyone to fear him after Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak failed to turn up at the "Nothing to Hide" dialogue on 1MDB this morning.
"I am just an ordinary man, I don't carry arms, I can't do anything or harm anyone. Why should anyone be afraid of me, you (press) are not afraid of me?" he told a press conference after taking over the stage at the event.
Mahathir sarcastically told the press that Najib may have more important matters than meeting the rakyat. "I think he must be busy with some other official work which is more important than meeting the people," he said.
Former Batu Kawan Umno division chief Khairuddin Abu Hasan did not mince words and called Najib a "coward" for not turning up
"Najib missed the opportunity to explain the issues (in Malaysia)... Najib 'penakut (coward)'. "We are not forcing the people to believe anyone but let the two (Mahathir and Najib) discuss national issues," he added.
He slammed most Umno leaders as apple polishers (kaki bodek), saying they only dared to attack Mahathir from afar. "When we ask them to face (Mahathir), they don't dare," he added.
Najib's office later said, in a brief statement on its Facebook page, that the PM had no choice but to avoid attending the forum due to safety concerns surrounding the event. The PMO, however, did not elaborate on the nature of security concern, reported Today Online.
In a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office later, it stated that Najib had skipped the programme in accordance with the orders and advice given by Khalid.
“The Prime Minister’s Office was informed by the organisers that the “Dialog PM bersama NGO” which was scheduled to happen at 10am today at the PWTC had to be postponed on the orders of Ketua Polis Negara @PDRMsia. This is due to the safety and security issues regarding the location of the event,” it stated.
therakyatpost.com