PUTRAJAYA, May 20 (Bernama) — The Malaysian Media Council (MMM) has called for a thorough, transparent and immediate investigation into the incident involving harassment and rough treatment against a group of media practitioners while covering the Pakatan Harapan (PH) Convention 2026 in Johor on Sunday.
In a statement today, MMM noted that the PH Convention Secretariat had issued a statement taking the allegations seriously and had initiated an internal investigation, while also expressing its commitment to cooperate with the authorities.
“Physical violence, intrusion or intimidation are entirely unacceptable as a response to the presence of the media.
“Under Section 6 of the Code of Conduct, media practitioners and media organisations are bound by standards that prohibit harassment and intimidation,” the statement said.
MMM stressed that media practitioners carrying out their duties lawfully and professionally must be accorded respect, space and safety to perform their responsibilities.
“Media personnel covering public events, including political conventions, do so in carrying out their professional responsibilities and in fulfilment of the public’s right to information,” the statement said.
MMM also called on event organisers across all political parties, public institutions and private entities to ensure proper access, adequate coordination and safe working conditions for accredited media personnel at all events, in line with the principles of media freedom, transparency and public accountability.
The statement further said that all parties must respect the rights of the media in carrying out their entrusted duties and responsibilities, but if there were any complaints, the parties involved should raise the matter formally through the appropriate channels instead of taking matters into their own hands.
“The MMM Code of Conduct and Complaints Mechanism were established for that purpose,” it said.
The incident involving alleged aggressive actions by a political party’s security squad against media personnel while covering the PH Convention 2026 has drawn reactions from various parties, while several police reports have also been lodged.
Media reports quoted Johor acting police chief DCP Hoo Chuan Huat as saying that police would call several witnesses to assist investigations into the incident.
— BERNAMA