MUAR: The police are yet to receive any reports regarding the alleged incidents where two female media practitioners were touched and pinched by the bodyguards of a minister during their coverage of the Pulai by-election. Deputy Inspector-General of Police Datuk Seri Ayob Khan Mydin Pitchay revealed that the police are also awaiting a statement from the relevant ministry.
“We have not received a police report concerning the incident as of now. Currently, we have only come across the media’s account of the situation, but I have yet to receive a comprehensive report on the matter. We will wait for official statements from the Federal side (ministry),” he informed the press after visiting SJKC Pei Chai on polling day on Saturday, September 9.
When questioned about a statement released by the Johor Media Club (KMJ) regarding the alleged mistreatment of media practitioners, including the incidents involving the two female reporters, by the bodyguards of a minister, he stated, “In a statement issued on Friday, September 8, KMJ President Mohamad Fauzi Ishak revealed that the incidents took place during two ceramah programmes for the Pulai parliamentary by-election held in Taman Anggerik and Taman Dahlia on Tuesday, September 5, which the minister attended.”
Mohamad Fauzi continued, “Some of the minister’s bodyguards attempted to obstruct media personnel from performing their duties. One of them allegedly touched a female reporter’s hand multiple times while she was recording the press conference using her smartphone. At another ceramah, one of his bodyguards repeatedly pinched the lower back of another female reporter during a standing press conference with the minister. The reporter’s statement of ‘jangan sentuh saya’ (don’t touch me) can even be heard in the voice recording of the press conference. At the same event, one of the bodyguards is said to have forcibly pushed a photographer’s camera while he was taking photos of the press conference.”
Credit: The Star : News Feed
