The Terengganu police have requested Entrepreneur Development Minister Mohd Nazri Aziz and PAS member of Parliament for Kuala Terengganu Dr Syed Azman Syed Ahmad Nawawi to sign a letter of undertaking to ensure that their debate tonight is trouble-free.

Syed Azman's personal assistant Mohd Rashidi Hassan told malaysiakini that the two politicians have agreed to sign the document which will hold them responsible for any mishap that occurs during the debate.

He said the police made the request following complaints from Umno Terengganu on the security aspect of the debate, which will take place at the Islam Administrative Centre hall in Sri Imam Complex, Kuala Terengganu.

"Both parties are keen to go on with the debate and are willing to make sure that the debate will be a professional and calm event," he added when contacted.

At press time, lawyers representing both parties were drafting the document.

Matured people

The debate, titled 'The closure of two MRSM in Terengganu: Who is the traitor?' is expected to draw a crowd of about 2,000 people, and will be shown live on PAS official website and the website of its organ Harakahdaily .

Nazri, who is Umno Chenderoh division chief and MP for Chenderoh in Perak had issued a written challenge to Syed Azman on June 17. The latter accepted it after obtaining permission from PAS acting president Abdul Hadi Awang.

The challenge was made following the PAS MP's motion in the Dewan Rakyat last month to "condemn the government for acting in haste" in closing the two colleges in Besut and Dungun.

Mohd Rashidi said PAS believes that there will be no untoward incidents.

"The people of Terengganu are matured. The debate is not going to incite anger but merely a platform for both speakers to present their stand based on facts."

He also thanked Nazri for being cooperative despite being pressured by his colleagues in Umno Terengganu who are not in favour of the debate.

"We have been told that there is fear among Umno people here that the debate might backfire. In the event that Nazri submits to the pressure and withdraws, we will continue like a normal ceramah," he said.

Umno's 'revenge'

Syed Azman alleged that the closure of the colleges was an act of revenge by Umno who cannot accept that voters in Terengganu had rejected its candidates" in the 1999 general election when PAS won the state.

Subsequently, Nazri said it was unfair of Syed Azman to have attacked him and his ministry through the motion, and that the open debate would enable him to reply to the allegations.

The minister also said the debate should be held in Kuala Terengganu so that people in the state "will know the truth".

MRSM colleges are administered by Majlis Rakyat Amanah (Mara), which comes under Nazri's ministry

Previously, he was reported as saying that the closure of the two colleges was not to due to political pressure, but a "matter of principle". The move had led to the transfer of over 600 students to other MRSM branch campuses.

LATEST

: At 6.45pm, Syed Azman told malaysiakini that the entrance to the hall has been closed by FRU and that he could not enter.

He believed the action was taken following Umno Terengganu 's complaint as they were unhappy that Nazri had agreed to take part in the debate.

"I don't understand why the police take such an action as the event is handled by the Terengganu state government.

"Nazri and I, as co-sponsors, have given the police our assurance that things would go smoothly but sadly our assurance has not been considered," Syed Azman added.