BLACK FOR MEDIA AND PRESS FREEDOM

THIS MEANINGFUL day on 503 in wearing black to express the support for Media and press freedom in Malaysia has put forward a real sense that there is a real need of media freedom in the country.

The Kota Kinabalu Member of Parliament Hiew King Cheu today joined the media in a simple photo session in KK saw the true spirit of the reporters in discharging their duties and responsibilities. In fact, they have to make their report on all issues and tell the story without fear and favour, and this is the true spirit that all Malaysian must follow.

KK MP Hiew said he saw with his own eyes that how the reporters were badly threatened even with their press-ID card hanging in front of their chests during the Bersih 3.0 around Dataran Merdeka. They were shouted at, pushed aside, blocked and with their camera confiscated, pictures force deleted, and even being pushed here and there. Many of them even get to taste the tear-gas or water cannon spray, and not forgetting some got hurt.

MP Hiew observed the ill treatments given to the reporters and he felt that these were totally uncalled for. In fact the reporters should be given ample room at all times while performing their duties to give a true and clear report of the event and happenings.

There were some unacceptable police actions carried out during the 428 protest function. The most unwelcome move was where the police used the 'charging action' to ramp into the Bersih crowd. A group of police officers ran in a group formation of more than 40 officers, charging and ramping into the Bersih crowd to catch and round up the people, old and young.

Many of them were pinned down on the ground and being kicked and beaten up. The point is why the police can organize to build up a strong charge team to ramp into the crowd, while they should be on a defensive blockage or barrier to stop the crowd. We wonder whether the police can charge like 'Bulls' into the people instead of controlling them with some professionally trained technique. They should not respond to provocation from the crowd and should stay cool and calm. 

It is observed that the police were ordering the press photographers to delete their photos of the incidents, and that also included the public who were on site to take photos and videos. The true fact is, the police have no right to order for such photo deletion and confiscating cameras and video cameras. Are they worried that the photos became evident of wrong doing?

The police force must review and perform postmortem on their action taken during the 428 Bersih 3.0 gathering. There must be certain action to be taken on those who had performed their duties out of order and away from the strict discipline they should follow. Our police force should improve in many ways and it is for the sack of the Malaysian. (DAP Media)