Two news photographers were reportedly beaten up by supporters of the Parti Keadilan Rakyat, or People's Justice Party (PKR) on August 16.

According to the Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ), Mohamad Sairien Mohamad Nafiz, a photographer of "New Straits Times Press" (NSTP), was attacked by around 20 PKR supporters after they saw him taking pictures while they were harassing a passing vehicle belonging to the Barisan Nasional (BN), the ruling coalition party.

The group also assaulted a French photojournalist, Halim Berbar from HBL Press News Agency, who saw the incident and went to Mohamad Sairien's rescue.

CIJ, a SEAPA partner, reported that the incident drew responses from the government's senior leadership, including Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi. Both the BN and PKR are now accusing each other as being behind the incident.

In a statement, CIJ said, "The galvanization of the government's top leadership over the attack of a photographer is a rare occasion. The last time it happened was during the 12th general elections in March when former Menteri Besar (Chief Minister) of Perlis Shahidan Kasim, and the former Home Affair Minister Radzi Sheikh Ahmad, voiced concern when two Malay daily photographers were injured by UMNO supporter. [This is unlike] the overwhelming silence in 2007 when two Tamil press photographers were allegedly abused by an official of the BN component party, MIC; another beaten to coma after receiving death threats for writing critically against MIC; and a Guang Ming daily photographer assaulted by an UMNO member when covering an opposition politician, Tan Kok Wai."

However, CIJ Executive Director Gayathry Venkiteswaran called on both political parties to stop the blame game and rein in their supporters instead.

"CIJ calls on all political parties to censure their members and supporters aligned to them who inflict harm and injury to journalists and photographers, and to enforce greater respect for media workers. All cases of attacks against media workers must be properly investigated and the wrongdoers brought to justice. The safety of journalists and photographers to perform their duties is of paramount importance and cannot be compromised by the acts of irresponsible, emotional and aggressive individuals," CIJ said in a statement.