Nothing against police force, still wondering why debate cancelled: Nazri Aziz

KUALA LUMPUR: Despite being baffled by the cancellation of the two planned debates with former premier Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, Tourism and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz maintained that he has nothing against the police force.
As a minister, Mohamed Nazri expressed his sadness that he was unable to debate Mahathir.
"If I was a leader from the opposition (camp), I can understand the cancellation, but I am a minister.
"I am not against the police, just that I was perplexed.
"Until I receive a reply, I am assuming that there was an instruction not to allow any debate involving me," he told reporters following the National Transformation 2050 (TN50) "Culture and Heritage" dialogue session here today.
Mohamed Nazri said this in response to a statement by Perak police chief Datuk Hasnan Hassan on Tuesday where he (Hasnan) called Nazri's earlier claims as baseless and untrue and denied that police had instructed the public to lodge a report to stop the debate from happening.
Mohamed Nazri had earlier claimed that the proposed debates were cancelled after several Umno leaders were instructed by the police to lodge reports against it.
To date, he said the police have yet to inform him the reason behind the cancellation.
"I am ready to debate at any time.
"Some suggested that the debate to be held in Los Angeles, since it could not be held here," he said jokingly.
The first debate was initially scheduled for March 25 at Kuala Kangsar but Perak police did not issue a permit for it.
The organiser, Kumpulan Media Karangkraf, had to cancel the debate the second time after it was rescheduled to April 7 at its headquarters after Selangor police revoked the permit, citing security reasons.