MALAYSIA needs a law that protects media practitioners when carrying out their duty, Gerakan Media Merdeka (Geramm) said today.

The statement comes after two local journalists were harassed by an Immigration Department security guard at the Urban Transformation Centre in Pudu Sentral for inquiring about long queues.

Geramm said on Facebook said the recent incident served to show how much a law is needed in Malaysia to protect journalists doing their jobs. 

“Among other things, the need to ‘ask for permission’ or ‘seek cooperation’ from relevant parties before commencing coverage – especially when it involves the public interest – should not be the first mandatory step.

“It is the responsibility of the media to comply with ethical principles in the field, including introducing themselves as journalists, withholding the identity of individuals or sources when necessary, and providing accountability over accusations,” it said.

Geramm said any interference with the media’s ability to perform their tasks, including physical or verbal hostility, should be considered a criminal offence. 

“Geramm also reiterates its stance that any issue involving journalistic work and ethics should be managed by an independent media council,” it said. 

Reports alleged the guard had also snatched a journalist’s phone away after realising he was being recorded. However the phone was returned to the journalist later on.

In a video that circulated online, the guard is seen shouting at the journalists to leave the premises.

Despite police reports being filed, Dang Wangi district police chief Noor Dellhan Yahaya said today that the case had been classed as no further action because the authorities had found no criminal offence. – May 16, 2022.