Malaysiakini will not submit the names of its journalists for the issuance of police identification tags to be worn by those covering the People's Uprising Rally called by Pakatan Rakyat on Saturday.
Chief editor Fathi Aris Omar said the request - apparently intended to distinguish media practitioners from protestors - would not help the police in their duty to facilitate a peaceful assembly.
"The police should offer protection to everyone, period," he said.
Yesterday, the police had asked media organisations to submit a list of journalists who will cover the rally, saying the identification tags are for their "protection".
Fathi Aris (left) noted thatMalaysiakini's own tags and the official accreditation cards issued by the Information, Communication and Culture Ministry should be sufficient for identification of its journalists.
Any identification tag issued by the police could lead to public distrust of media personnel, he said.
"This would make it look like the journalists are being ‘endorsed' by the police," he cautioned, pointing out that it could create an unhealthy precedent.
"Over time, the public may perceive such documents as constituting written permission to cover certain events. Any external influence on journalistic decisions, no matter how subtle, must be avoided at all costs."
As the police identification tags would have a "chilling effect" on journalism, the move does not bode well for Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak's declaration that he will liberalise press laws.
Chief editor Fathi Aris Omar said the request - apparently intended to distinguish media practitioners from protestors - would not help the police in their duty to facilitate a peaceful assembly.
"The police should offer protection to everyone, period," he said.
Yesterday, the police had asked media organisations to submit a list of journalists who will cover the rally, saying the identification tags are for their "protection".
Fathi Aris (left) noted thatMalaysiakini's own tags and the official accreditation cards issued by the Information, Communication and Culture Ministry should be sufficient for identification of its journalists.Any identification tag issued by the police could lead to public distrust of media personnel, he said.
"This would make it look like the journalists are being ‘endorsed' by the police," he cautioned, pointing out that it could create an unhealthy precedent.
"Over time, the public may perceive such documents as constituting written permission to cover certain events. Any external influence on journalistic decisions, no matter how subtle, must be avoided at all costs."
As the police identification tags would have a "chilling effect" on journalism, the move does not bode well for Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak's declaration that he will liberalise press laws.
Cops told to wear their tags, too
Fathi Aris commended the police for finding ways to improve their image, but said the intended move was not holistic.
The police force, he said, must ensure that its own personnel are disciplined while on duty at public events, and that they are penalised for any proven infraction.
"One of our journalists was punched by the police when covering the Bersih 3.0 rally last year, and the memory card from his camera was confiscated. Until today, no action has been taken on this complaint," he lamented.
"As a show of faith, we suggest that all police personnel to display their name tag and identification number prominently on their uniform while on duty, including this Saturday's rally."
Fathi Aris commended the police for finding ways to improve their image, but said the intended move was not holistic.
The police force, he said, must ensure that its own personnel are disciplined while on duty at public events, and that they are penalised for any proven infraction.
"One of our journalists was punched by the police when covering the Bersih 3.0 rally last year, and the memory card from his camera was confiscated. Until today, no action has been taken on this complaint," he lamented."As a show of faith, we suggest that all police personnel to display their name tag and identification number prominently on their uniform while on duty, including this Saturday's rally."
There were reports that a number of police officers did not wear their name tags during Bersih 3.0 rally.
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