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Alert

Journalists verbally and physically attacked by members of ruling party

(SEAPA/IFEX) - Two journalists covering a legislative assembly by-election in Malaysia were verbally and physically attacked by supporters and members of the incumbent political party, reports the Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ), a local free expression group and SEAPA partner.

On 3 April 2007, photographer P. Malayandi, 49, of "Makkal Osai" was allegedly pushed and punched by S.A. Vigneswaran, parliamentary secretary for the Youth and Sports Ministry and youth head of the Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC), a component party of the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition. Meanwhile, other MIC members shouted vulgarities at R. Malini, 30, of "Malayan Nanban".

Both journalists were covering the nomination day for the polls in Machap, Melaka, 150 kilometres south of the capital city, Kuala Lumpur, when a scuffle broke out between supporters of the two contesting parties outside the nomination centre.

Malini said that when she tried to take pictures of those involved after the police controlled the fight, an MIC member verbally abused her and warned her not to take or publish any pictures.

Malayandi, who also tried to photograph the aftermath of the scuffle, was stopped from entering the nomination hall by Vigneswaran. Malayandi claimed that when he protested, Vigneswaran shoved and punched him.

Both journalists subsequently filed a police report.

When contacted by CIJ, Vigneswaran denied the allegations.

SEAPA shares CIJ's concern that the public's right to know was not served as the attack left them with no picture of the incident.

In a 5 April statement available from its website, http://www.cijmalaysia.org , CIJ noted there was "lopsided reporting" of the by-election, with positive news widely reported, but not the harsh or ugly realities.

SEAPA joins CIJ in calling on the authorities to conduct a "thorough and impartial investigation" into the matter and take action against the culprits if it is found that the journalists were deliberately prevented from discharging their duties.