Kit Siang slammed for verbal attack on TV3 reporter

Journalist group Gerakan Media Merdeka (Geramm) has lambasted DAP parliamentary leader Lim Kit Siang for what it deemed as his uncalled for verbal attack against a mainstream media reporter during a press conference at the home of Zaid Ibrahim yesterday morning.

Referring to a video of the incident uploaded by Internet broadcaster KiniTV, Geramm noted in its statement, that “Lim became visibly agitated and lost his cool when asked if he would be speaking about the BMF and Bank Negara forex scandals differently if former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad was not his ally now”.

“How have I said it differently? How? You can’t substantiate it, you are making a baseless allegation.

“You prove it! If not, you are making a baseless allegation,” Lim can be seen lambasting the reported in the footage, to jeers from the crowd when it was found out that the reporter was from TV3.

Geramm regretted that Lim did not give any opportunity for the reporter to defend himself, or offer a rationale to the question, let alone exhibit some professional consideration for the reporter.

“Geramm would like to stress that all journalists have a right to ask questions and perform their duties without any hindrance.

“As a veteran politician, Lim should be showing a good example by not losing his cool towards a reporter who is only carrying out his duties,” argued the ad-hoc group representing media practitioners.

Indeed, the group believe that Lim could have provided his counter-argument against anything he disagreed with the reporter, instead of losing his cool.

“And even more so when Lim is well-known as a politician who would consistently write his own statements, if there was any matter that needed to be addressed,” said Geramm further.

However in the same statement, Geramm also urged media editorial teams to observe principles of ethical journalism and exercise due consideration and tact in their daily operations, to avoid further erosion of the media’s credibility in this challenging era of borderless information.-Mkini