Counter-ceramah equals trouble, says ex-IGP

Counter-ceramah in the vicinity of another should not be allowed as this is akin to looking for trouble, says former inspector-general of police Musa Hassan.

"This should not be allowed, to me, don't (do it), that is called trying to pick a fight, not about wanting go to a ceramah.

Don't do it nearby, if you do it nearby, then that (clashes) will happen," he told Malaysiakini in an exclusive interview yesterday.

He added that such situation would give birth to complications when conflict arises as it would be difficult to identity the culprits responsible.

"Those who carried out the attacks would say their opponents are behind it, it could also be someone who did it and blamed it on others... we do not know who it is, so that is the problem," Musa (right) said.

Asked if police should intervene, Musa said the onus should be on ceramah participants to rein in their own emotions.

"We do not want a day when police would needed even to guard ceramah... How can we call ourselves a peaceful nation if even ceramah , need police to be guarding," he said.

He urged the public not to be carried away by political sentiments.

"This is a democratic country, anyone can criticise anyone, you shouldn't get angry and show your anger through violence," he said.

Both Umno and PKR have claimed that projectiles were thrown from the other divide in a side by side ceramah by the two parties on Thursday.

In the incident, a Pakatan supporter suffered a bloodied head and a 12-year old girl was hurt on her left arm by a fist-sized brick.