Police are merely exercising their discretionary powers in banning the debate between Dr Mahathir Mohamad and minister Nazri Abdul Aziz on the grounds of maintaining public order.

Inspector-general of police Khalid Abu Bakar said policing powers were provided for under Section 3(3) of the Police Act 1967 and enacted in accordance to the Federal Constitution.

He also cited Section 20(3) of the same act which conferred the police with discretionary powers to carry out such duties, in the interest of the public.

"Thus, in relation to the proposed debate, to charge that the police is abusing its powers is preposterous as it has facilitated numerous other debates prior to this," he said.

“When discretion means denial, it must be understood that the police is exercising its authority and judgement, based on evidence of a potential threat to the safety and welfare of the public,” he said.

“As such, to say that the police have indirectly obstructed freedom of speech is irrational,” he said in response to critics who claimed that the police have acted unconstitutionally and gone beyond its powers in revoking permission to hold the proposed debate at organiser Karangkraf’s premise in Shah Alam on April 7.

Commenting further, Khalid pointed out that it has been established in a Court of Appeal judgement that the rights of one set of citizens cannot override the rights of another, in this case referring to freedom of speech and overall public safety.

“It is thus not a question of abuse of powers, but the duty of the police to exercise its discretionary powers, which is done in good faith and in the interest of the people,” he said.

Selangor deputy police chief Mohd Fuad Abdul Latiff on Sunday revealed that 18 reports were lodged against the proposed debate and investigations had revealed that troublemakers were expected to disrupt the event if it was to go on as planned.

Debate organisers Sinar Harian had claimed that the U-turn by the police came just 24 hours after providing a written consent for the event.

Following the decision, Sinar Harian had stated that it is no longer interested in hosting the event which has already been cancelled twice.

The debate was initially scheduled for March 25 in Kuala Kangsar, Perak, but the police had also prevented the event from happening.