Organisers of an event to commemorate the 30th anniversary of Operasi Lalang plan to invite former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad and former inspector-general of police Hanif Omar to their event.

The organisers said that the Oct 29 forum was an opportunity for Mahathir and Hanif to tell their side of the story behind Operasi Lalang.

On October 27, 1987, the police detained 106 individuals including activists, opposition leaders, unionists and teachers, among others.

Some of them, including the current Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, were held without trial for up to two years.

Mahathir was prime minister and home minister at the time while Hanif was the police chief.

Suaram executive director Sevan Doraisamy said the duo will have a chance to speak alongside other detainees such as activist and former lawmaker Kua Kia Soong, Parti Sosialis Malaysia chairperson Dr Nasir Hashim and Amanah chairperson Mohamad Sabu.

The forum is titled "Operasi Lalang 1987: My Side of History" and will be held at the Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall (KLSCAH).

Apart from Suaram, the other co-organisers are the Civil Rights Committee of KLSCAH, the Teoh Beng Hock Trust for Democracy, and KLSCAH Youth.

Suaram coordinator Amir Abd Hadi said organisers are not out to criticise Mahathir and Hanif, but the event will allow them to clear the air.

Meanwhile, national laureate A Samad Said said the event was significant because it was a reminder that mass detention without trial must not recur.

"We must not forget. We cannot have such incidents happen again," he said.