Police have not received application from any quarters to hold a debate between former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Minister of Tourism and Culture, Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz planned to be held next week.

Acting Perak police chief Datuk Hasnan Hassan said so far, there was no request for a permit to hold the gathering, planned at 3 pm at Maktab Rendah Sains Mara (MRSM) Sultan Azlan Shah in Kuala Kangsar on March 25.

"If it is held without permission from the police, the event will be unlawful and action could be taken under the Peaceful Assembly Act," he said in a statement here today.

He said it was the responsibility of the police to ensure public order and advised the public against participating in the event.

According to recent media reports, Mohamed Nazri, who is Padang Rengas Member of Parliament, had accepted Dr Mahathir's challenge and had even allocated and arranged a time and place for the purpose.

The UMNO Supreme Council member said it would be a healthy debate on issues like the Bumiputra Malaysia Finance (BMF) scandal. -- Bernama