NUJ says assault at Low Yat Plaza a clear attempt to racialise situation

KUALA LUMPUR - The National Union of Journalists (NUJ) has condemned the assault of two photographers and a reporter last night at Low Yat Plaza, calling it a clear attempt to racialise the incident by attacking the Chinese newspaper representatives.

Sin Chew Daily crime reporter Chan Woei Loon, and photographers from Kwong Wah and China Press, Calvin Foong Yi Kian and Sam Kar Haur were the three who were attacked while covering the gathering last night at the plaza by some 200 citizens in an apparent continuation of Saturday’s incident.

Chan was attacked while attempting to protect the cameramen from the mob, and was later brought to a nearby clinic for treatment while the others were given on-site treatment.

NUJ president Chin Sung Chew said that the thugs involved were clearly only there to cause trouble and attempt to racialise the mall brawl by attacking the journalists from the Chinese press.

“There was absolutely no reason for them to physically harm the journalists,” said Chin, who called for the police to investigate the matter without delay. “The reporters were assigned to cover the event and the group could have surely identified them as members of the press on duty.”

“We will not condone such acts of violence that inflict injuries on journalists as these incidents will create an unhealthy trend of media workers being attacked while carrying out their public duty.”

Chin said that such incidents would interfere with press freedom, preventing them from carrying out their duties effectively.

He also cautioned reporters and photographers covering incidents of possible social unrest to adhere to guidelines in the NUJ safety handbook.

“Those assigned to cover such events have to be prepared for any eventuality and the book provides key guidance on the do’s and don’ts,” he said.

This follows the police arrest of a 22-year-old man who was believed to have been involved in a fight at Low Yat Plaza allegedly because he was upset at being accused of stealing a handphone.

The 7.38pm incident started after the suspect’s unhappiness on being detained by Plaza Low Yat’s security guards when he was accused of stealing a handphone.

The owner of the shop, See Ming Ho, 28, had claimed the suspect pretended to want to buy a Lenovo S860 telephone before running off with it.

Several areas in Bukit Bintang have since been declared off-limits to members of the public, with city police chief Tajuddin Md Isa saying, “We will continue monitoring the area and policemen are placed there to avoid any untoward incidents.”