The event this morning where both Datuk Seri Najib Razak and Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad were supposed to attend has been cancelled in the name of maintaining public order and national harmony.
The programme 'Dialog PM Bersama NGO' (PM’s dialogue with NGOs) was scheduled to take place at 9am at the Dewan Tun Hussein Onn in Putra World Trade Centre.
Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar confirmed the cancellation via his Twitter.
About 1,500 members of various NGOs were already present at the premises when the cancellation announcement was made at 8.55am.
Around 9.30am, an event spokesman announced that the event was actually not opened to the media and Pressmen were directed to leave the hall after snapping or recording their shots of the prime minister.
Meanwhile, Dr Mahathir, who had arrived at the hall, created a bit of a stir when he began to address the crowd. His speech, however, was cut short by the police.
Astro AWANI reporter Syafique Shuib recorded the moments via his Twitter.
Event organiser, Malaysian Volunteer Lawyers Association (SukaGuam) had earlier tried to negotiate with the police to let the event continue.
But when it was clear that the event would be put on hold, SukaGuam chairman Datuk Khairul Anwar Rahmat told a media conference that the organisers would strive to get a new date with Najib to hold the dialogue.
He added that the hall could only cater to 1,500 people but about 2,500 people had turned up for the event.
The programme was supposed to allow Najib a chance to address the public’s queries on the various negative reports on him recently.
The programme had been actively promoted by SukaGuam via the hashtag #Nothing2Hide in the last couple of days.
"The NGOs should be given a chance to pose their questions to Najib, seeing that they have a lot of important issues. This is to ensure that politicians don’t dominate the discussions on national issues," Khairul Anwar had said in a statement last Monday.
READ: #Nothing2Hide: Tun M expected to attend PM's dialogue with NGOs
Astro Awani
Fri Jun 05 2015
The event was ready to take off when the police announced the cancellation. - Astro AWANI/Syafique Shuib
Pemimpin UMNO perlu teroka pendekatan baharu - Ahmad Zahid
Pemimpin UMNO juga perlu menjadi peneraju dalam pemikiran rakyat bagi mengekang fitnah yang dilemparkan oleh pihak tertentu.
Emir Kuwait bubar Parlimen yang dipilih sebulan lalu - Dekri
Emir Kuwait, Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, pada petang Jumaat mengeluarkan dekri membubarkan Parlimen yang dipilih pada awal April.
Perak berjaya tanam semula 7.88 juta pokok setakat ini - MB
Perak tanam 7.88 juta pokok setakat ini melebihi sasaran enam juta yang ditetapkan kerajaan Persekutuan melalui Kempen Penanaman 100 Juta Pokok 2021-2025.
Pulau Pinang sasar tarik 150,000 bakat dalam lima tahun akan datang
Pulau Pinang komited untuk memupuk persekitaran yang kondusif terhadap inovasi teknologi.
Angkasa sedia bantu PIBG sekolah rendah tubuhkan koperasi
Angkasa bersedia membantu kira-kira 7,780 PIBG di peringkat sekolah rendah kebangsaan seluruh negara bagi menubuhkan koperasi.
RM7 juta diperuntukkan naik taraf 38 tamu desa di Sabah - Ewon
Peruntukan berkenaan adalah untuk pelaksanaan fasa pertama Projek Tamu Desa di negeri itu.
Angka korban hujan ribut, banjir di Afghanistan cecah lebih 330
Di wilayah Baghlan saja, lebih 300 maut dan lebih 1,000 kediaman dilaporkan musnah.
Akademi Dalam Industri perkukuh saluran bakat mahir dan keperluan industri
Inisiatif Akademi Dalam Industri berpotensi merubah landskap pasaran buruh negara secara signifikan.
TH diarah siasat 300 jemaah haji terkandas di Mekah - Mohd Na'im
Menteri di Jabatan Perdana Menteri (Hal Ehwal Agama) Datuk Dr Mohd Na’im Mokhtar berkata Lembaga Tabung Haji (TH) telah diarah untuk menyiasat insiden 300 bakal jemaah terkandas di Mekah akibat terpedaya dengan pakej haji murah yang ditawarkan agensi pelancongan tidak bertanggungjawab.
Golongan muda paling ramai sertai program
Golongan muda antara yang paling ramai menyertai Majlis Tilawah dan Hafazan al-Quran Peringkat Kebangsaan kali ini, yang akan berlangsung selama enam hari bermula 23 Mei di Kompleks Penyiaran Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah di Kuantan.