A showdown between Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak and former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad at a dialogue last Friday would have only ruined their dignities, a BN lawmaker said today.

As such Noh Omar (BN-Tanjong Karang) said it was a good thing Inspector-General of Police Khalid Abu Bakar cancelled the event.

"I want to congratulate the IGP for calling off the 'Nothing to Hide' dialogue. For me this is more than just about security. This is about the dignity of the prime minister and a former prime minister.

"If this event had gone on, there would have only been booing, provocations, insults, and cursing.

"I believe whatever the prime minister or former prime minister would have said, their supporters wouldn't have cared because they (only care) about their emotions," Noh ( photo ) told the Dewan Rakyat.

He said this in response to Mahfuz Omar (PAS-Pokok Sena), who questioned Najib's reason for not turning up at the planned dialogue with NGOs, during a debate on the 11th Malaysia Plan.

The prime minister had bailed from the event, after the IGP called it off, citing security concerns.
 
Asked by Rafizi Ramli (PKR-Pandan) if it was mature of Najib to skip the dialogue, Noh reiterated that it would have only resulted in jeers.
 
"This is not a theatre for Pakatan supporters," he added.
 
He said the best thing for Najib and Mahathir now is to have a heart-to-heart discussion on their problems with each other in private.