Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) Youth chief Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman has rubbished an accusation from his own party member that the fracas at the Nothing to Hide 2 forum last weekend was the work of the organisers.

He was responding to Bersatu Shah Alam security director Wan Mohammad Ashraf Nasjaruddin, who claimed yesterday that he was the target of the evening’s violence.

“Don’t try to tell lies. Why would you be the main target?

“The flares were thrown in (former prime minister) Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s direction,” Syed Saddiq told Malaysiakini today.

“The chairs and slippers were also thrown far to the front,” he said.

“If we really wanted to stop him from asking questions, why did we allow other questions that were far more sensitive?

“Mahathir answered eight questions before the sabotage,” Syed Saddiq added.

These, he said, included questions about Mahathir’s sacked deputy Anwar Ibrahim, the Memali incident, PKR deputy president Azmin Ali, DAP and others.

“We allowed all questions to be asked. If we were afraid (of questions), we would not have organised the Nothing to Hide programme,” he said.

“Why would we suddenly want to stop his questions?” he added.

According to Bernama, Wan Mohammad lodged police reports yesterday claiming that those involved “were from among the organising committee, secretariat and several Bersatu members themselves”.

“The chaos was triggered to prevent me from asking Dr Mahathir several other questions, after those on the Memali incident were asked by others,” he was reported as saying.

The event on Sunday descended into chaos at approximately 5.30pm when Mahathir was addressing the crowd.

As Mahathir answered a question about the 1985 Memali tragedy in Baling, slippers were hurled in his direction, followed by several other objects, including bottles, chairs and flares, resulting in a commotion.

Police reports welcomed

On the alleged death threats, Syed Saddiq said he welcomed Wan Mohammad to lodge police reports, and supported full action against those responsible, “even if they are party members”.

Asked if the party will take action against the Shah Alam leader, he said he would leave that to the disciplinary body and cannot comment, as Wan Mohammad is not a Youth member.

“But in response to his call for my resignation, send someone to challenge me at the party election.

“I welcome him. We are a democratic party,” he said.

“As of now, my focus is only (for the opposition) to win the 14th general election, to save my beloved country.”