After viral mosque photo, Ismail urges media to observe social distance

Media personnel have been urged to abide by Covid-19 prevention guidelines which include maintaining a safe social distance while on duty.

In making the call, Defence Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob alluded to a viral photograph taken by an unknown individual which showed a large number of media personnel on duty at the National Mosque yesterday to cover the first Friday prayers held after almost two months of the closure of mosques.

"Yesterday there was an issue, not about the (Friday prayers) congregation, but about media personnel who were packed together and clearly did not practise social distancing.

"So I urge the media, even while in the course of reporting news, please follow the standard operating procedures which include observing social distancing," said Ismail.

The photograph was widely shared on social media with mostly disparaging remarks made against journalists on duty with critics alluding to the potential of a new cluster of Covid-19 infections.

Malaysiakini understands that the photograph was taken during a briefing for the new Friday prayers guidelines and that media personnel were not allowed to join in the formal prayer session which followed after.

Ismail earlier said de facto religious affairs minister Zulkifli Mohamad had informed the ministers’ meeting today that all 25 mosques and 30 surau authorised to hold Friday prayers had mostly complied with the new standard operating procedures.

Asked later whether event organisers should be tasked to facilitate media coverage, including to provide enough space that took into account social distancing requirements, Ismail said the matter could be further discussed.

"I agree that organisers who wished to invite the media, they must allocate a marked area.

"If it was found that the area is too cramped, they can also limit the number of media personnel present," said Ismail whose daily press conference at the Prime Minister’s Office is limited to only government-owned media.

Press freedom groups as well as the National Union of Journalists Malaysia had previously spoken out against media restrictions imposed in the name of adherence to Covid-19 prevention guidelines.

Rather than limiting access, the groups pointed to the Health Ministry's daily briefings by Health Ministry director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah that is open to all media but with a standard operating procedure for safe media coverage which could be applied across all functions. - Mkini