Media watchdogs in Malaysia are denouncing the use of force against photojournalists by security personnel of political parties during news events.
The Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ), a SEAPA partner, and the Writers' Alliance for Media Independence (WAMI) in a statement said, "The latest assault of a photojournalist by security personnel of the Parti Keadilan Rakyat (People's Justice Party), reflects a worrying trend of disregard to the journalism profession and constitutes a job hazard that media professionals are routinely exposed to."
According to CIJ and WAMI, security personnel of PKR adviser, Anwar Ibrahim, mauled photographer Loh Hoay Hoon on August 4 while he was covering Ibrahim's public speech. It was reported that the bodyguards' attempts to prevent Loh and other photographers from taking pictures of Ibrahim resulted in a scuffle in which Loh was beaten up.
Prior to this, four photographers covering the July 15 televised debate between Ibrahim and Information Minister Shabery Cheek were also allegedly assaulted by security personnel in the Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka (Institute of Language and Literature), the debate's venue.
Zulkifli Ersal and Khairul Hasnor Mohd Khalili from "The Daily Sun;" Othman Abu Bakar from "The Edge Financial Daily;" and Hanafiah Hamzah, a cameraman from Channel News Asia, said the security personnel also prevented them from taking pictures of the speakers and even tried to block their exit from the media room.
CIJ and WAMI said in their statement that photographers, as media professionals, should be treated with dignity by all parties. CIJ added that its monitoring revealed that photojournalists are always harassed by political parties' security personnel.
"This indicates a lack of respect for the journalism profession and a lack of understanding of the role photographers play. CIJ and WAMI would like to remind all that the public's right to information is being undermined when photographers are routinely restricted to report visually to the public," the joint statement said.
