Police personnel and bodyguards pounced on an middle-age when he attempted to hand a memorandum to Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi during an official gathering in Port Dickson, Negeri Sembilan.

According to Bernama , the man was arrested and immediately taken to the Port Dickson district police station for questioning but it was not immediately clear if he was detained.

"We will have to make further investigations," Port Dickson district police chief Mazlan Othman told reporters.

However, he declined to revealed the man's identity or the contents of the memorandum.

The incident happened at the launching of the " Rapat Bestari Kebangsaan " programme, which was officiated by Abdullah yesterday. The function was telecast live on RTM 1.

Smartly attired

According to eyewitnesses, the smartly attired man suddenly walked up to the podium where the premier was seated with several other national leaders and tried to hand over an envelope containing the memorandum.

The man was about two metres away from Abdullah when policemen and the premier's bodyguards intercepted him.

A minor commotion ensued and he was eventually overpowered. He was heard shouting, "Don't hit me, I am an old man. Save Tanjung Tuan!" causing his denture to fall off.

Information Minister Zainuddin Maidin, whose speech was briefly interrupted by the commotion, then continued addressing the crowd.

It was not immediately clear how Abdullah had reacted to the incident.

Some 10,000 people who attended the function witnessed the incident.