By Athi Shankar
July 3, 2011 | Free Malaysia Today
GEORGE TOWN: The assault on newsmen during Friday’s violent rally and the police inaction to stop it had irked the Penang Chinese Journalists and Photographers Association (Pewaju).
In a strongly worded statement here, Pewaju condemned the unprovoked attacks on a journalist, a photographer and a videographer by the protestors during violent and illegal rallies in George Town downtown and on Penang Bridge.
The rallies were against the Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng’s Pakatan Rakyat state government and next Saturday’s Bersih 2.0 rally.
The protesters were pre-dominantly local leaders and members of Umno, Perkasa and Suara Anak-Anak Mamak Pulau Pinang. Observers believed, among the protesters were also hired local thugs.
The rally ring leaders included the Anak Mamak group leader Mohamed Ghani Abd Jiman and Senator Ezam Mohd Nor.
“We condemn strongly the attack on journalist and cameramen during the rally.
“We are appalled and upset with the failure of police to protect the media men and the ordinary citizens,” said Pewaju.
The statement questioned the standard and status of security and safety for ordinary people given by the police.
The statement claimed the attacks on the journalist took place right before the police eyes, but the law enforcers were hapless, helpless and hopeless to stop the assault.
The statement claimed that the demonstrators simply did not bother about the presence of the police and were volatile throughout the illegal assembly.
“The ineptness of the police raised a question on their integrity, competency and credibility to protect ordinary Malaysians,” slammed Pewaju.
Pewaju explained reporters and cameramen risk their lives to be at any spots of happenings to report the truth to the public.
Hence, it insisted that media men needed absolute protection and cooperation from all quarters, especially the police, to do their job with minimum disruption and risk.
To throw into the sea
In Friday’s illegal assembly on the Penang Bridge, a youth wearing an Umno Youth shirt threatened to throw the assaulted journalist into the sea.
The protester allegedly asked the journalist whether or not he wanted to swim under the bridge.
“That is a threat to throw the journalist to the sea,” insisted Pewaju.
Pewaju questioned on why the police were lame duck in enforcing the law and failed to take preventive measures to stop the demonstration before hand when they already knew about it a day earlier.
Question also arises on why the police have been so tough to clampdown on the Bersih 2.0 rally which is yet to take place, while being incompetent in halting an illegal rally by Umno and company that actually took place.
“Are police practicing double standards here?” asked Pewaju.
Two of the assaulted journalists have already lodged police reports on the unsavoury incidents.
Pewaju calls on the police to carry out immediate probe into the reports and nab the culprits to face charges sooner than later.
#1 by voice2009 on Sunday, 3 July 2011 - 10:54 am
They are trying to save their Dr MAMA who would be charge of corruption as CRIMINAL once the BN lose in election
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Later Life & Death
In 1977, Tunku Abdul Rahman became the chairman of The Star, a newspaper which was banned in 1987 by Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad because of its provoking columns that were harshly critical of the Malaysia’s government. Following a rift with in UMNO, he unsuccessfully tried to establish a new party UMNO Malaysia. In the general election of 1900, Tunku Abdul Rahman actively participated and widely campaigned against Mahathir Mohamad despite his worsening health. He died on 6 December 1990, aged eighty seven and his body was buried at the Langgar Royal Mausoleum in Alor Star.
#2 by yhsiew on Sunday, 3 July 2011 - 10:56 am
///The protesters were pre-dominantly local leaders and members of Umno, Perkasa and Suara Anak-Anak Mamak Pulau Pinang. Observers believed, among the protesters were also hired local thugs.///
These are dangerous parties which Hisham refused to ban them. As I have said it before, Hisham is giving people the green light to be above the law so long as what they do is in the interests of Umno/Bn.
#3 by voice2009 on Sunday, 3 July 2011 - 11:01 am
They are trying to save their Dr MAMA who would be charge of corruption as CRIMINAL once the BN lose in election
——————————-
Later Life & Death
In 1977, Tunku Abdul Rahman became the chairman of The Star, a newspaper which was banned in 1987 by Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad because of its provoking columns that were harshly critical of the Malaysia’s government. Following a rift with in UMNO, he unsuccessfully tried to establish a new party UMNO Malaysia. In the general election of 1990, Tunku Abdul Rahman actively participated and widely campaigned against Mahathir Mohamad despite his worsening health. He died on 6 December 1990, aged eighty seven and his body was buried at the Langgar Royal Mausoleum in Alor Star.
#4 by negarawan on Sunday, 3 July 2011 - 11:52 am
The Star has lost its integrity, and does not command the respect it had during Tunku’s time. It is fully controlled by UMNO via their political slave MCA. I was thoroughly disgusted by the shameless and unprofessional headlines and editorial condemning Anwar, which was not only in poor taste, but also reflects the gutter journalism they are engaged in. Shame to The Star chief editor. I have cancelled my subscription to The Star as a matter of principle and would encourage all fair-minded Malaysians not to support such publications.
#5 by Cinapek on Sunday, 3 July 2011 - 3:27 pm
The Penang protest was a thinly veiled warning by BN what they will do to the Bersih 2 rally if it takes place.
Otherwise how does one explain that the protest was allowed to take place in the first place without a permit, escorted by the police who did nothing when the journalist were assaulted in front of their eyes and last but not least, not a word of condemnation or citicism of the protest or its violent nature against innocent victims by BN leaders who had been so vehement in their condemnation of Bersih 2. One would not be too far of the mark to think that this protest was deliberately instigated to send a warning. And it would be used as a reason to stop Bersih 2 as well.
In the larger picture, the continued silent support of such dastardly acts by the authorities will encourage more such acts because these perpetrators knows they are not only supported by the authorities but also it would not surprise many that these acts are directed by the very people opposed to Bersih 2, and we all know who that is.
The double standards are obvious. I think the police and the Govt do not give a damn anymore and have gone beyond worrying about such perception or accusations. The stakes are too high and their prime concern is to make sure their goals of GE13 are achieved at all cost.