I'll talk to the cops, says PM over Mkini journos ban

I'll talk to the cops, says PM over Mkini journos ban

Published: Aug 23, 2024 8:07 PM


Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim emphasised that the media should not be restricted from reporting like the Malaysiakini journalists who were barred from attending a police event yesterday.

“I will reach out to the police as soon as possible so there are no restrictions whatsoever, like what happened to Malaysiakini,” he told reporters after attending an event at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre (PICC) today.

His remarks came after Malaysiakini was reportedly barred from attending an event organised by the police dubbed “PDRM Special Dialogue II”.

The event at the Sime Darby Convention Centre in Kuala Lumpur yesterday began with closed-door sessions between the Bukit Aman Narcotics Department and stakeholders, including other law enforcement agencies under the home and finance ministries.

After those sessions, the media was supposed to be able to cover a launch ceremony by Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail scheduled for 12.30pm.

However, at around 11am, a press officer from the Bukit Aman police headquarters told Malaysiakini journalists present there that they were not allowed to enter.

A banner at the event yesterday


This was despite Malaysiakini receiving an invitation for the event via email from Bukit Aman. The portal replied to the email within the same day with the details of two reporters assigned to cover the event.

Rights groups and MPs have raised questions, with Gerakan Media Merdeka (Geramm) urging the police to name the person who instructed Malaysiakini reporters to be barred from the event.