Security concerns prompted the police to ask Entrepreneur Development Minister Mohd Nazri Aziz to cancel the debate with a PAS leader in Terengganu last night, said the minister's press secretary Mohammad Isa today.

"The minister was able to go into the hall and up the stage in order to explain the change of plans. Understandably, the audience was disappointed," he added when contacted.

According to Mohammad, several police personnel escorted Nazri out of the Islamic Administrative Centre hall - the venue - for the debate.

The debate titled 'The closure of two MRSM in Terengganu: Who is the traitor?' came about after Nazrii issued a challenge to PAS leader and MP for Kuala Terengganu Syed Azman Syed Ahmad Nawawi on June 17.

Umno's 'revenge'

The challenge followed a motion at the Dewan Rakyat by the PAS MP to "condemn the government for acting in haste" in closing the two colleges in Besut and Dungun.

Syed Azman claimed the closure was an act of 'revenge' by Umno who could not accept that voters in Terengganu favoured PAS in the 1999 general election.

Subsequently, Nazri - who is Umno Chenderoh division chief and MP for Chenderoh in Perak -retorted that it was unfair of the opposition parliamentarian to attack him and his ministry through the motion.

He said an open debate would give him the platform to reply and insisted that it be held in Kuala Terengganu so that the people there "would know the truth".

Yesterday, Syed Azman told malaysiakini that the entrance to the hall was sealed off by Federal Reserve Unit (FRU) personnel and he could not enter.

"I don't understand why the police must take such an action as the event is handled by the Terengganu state government.

"Nazri and I, as co-sponsors, have given the police our assurance that things would go smoothly but sadly our assurance has not been considered," he added.

He believed the action was taken following Umno Terengganu's complaint as they were unhappy that Nazri had agreed to take part in the debate.

MRSM colleges are administered by Majlis Rakyat Amanah (Mara), which comes under Nazri's ministry.

Previously, he was reported as saying that the closure of the two colleges was not to due to political pressure, but a "matter of principle".

The move had led to the transfer of over 600 students to other MRSM branch campuses.