Union disputes registrar, says court aware of reporters’ presence

The National Union of Journalists has disputed the Federal Court Chief Registrar's Office’s claim that officials at the Putrajaya Magistrate’s Court were not aware of reporters’ presence during proceedings against Nurulhidayah Ahmad Zahid her husband Saiful Nizam Mohd Yusof.

NUJ president Farah Marshita Abdul Rahman said there were not many people present in court at the time, and five reporters were initially allowed inside.

“Media practitioners were then asked to leave for remand proceedings, but when open court proceeding resumed after remand hearings, media practitioners were not allowed back inside.

“Instead, only friends of the accused were allowed into the courtroom when the accused’s case is being called.

“This incident shows that the court was aware of the presence of media practitioners. Moreover, each media practitioner wears an ID tag to identify themselves.

“It should be reminded that such restrictions stymies media freedom and should not happen in open court,” she said in a statement today.

Earlier today, the Federal Court Chief Registrar's Office said the incident yesterday was an oversight, and no directive has been given to ban reporters from covering the proceedings.

The office claimed that the courtroom was packed, so members of the public had been instructed to leave in accordance with the Health Ministry’s social distancing guidelines.

“The court also did not realise the presence of the media on that day therefore there is no issue of the media being prevented to cover the case.

"The court always strives to ensure access to justice is carried out for all, including the media,” it said.

During the proceedings, Nurulhidayah (above) and Saiful - who are the daughter and son-in-law of Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi - were sentenced to an RM800 fine each by Magistrate Shah Wirah Abdul Halim for violating the movement control order.

The journalists’ group Gerakan Media Merdeka had said that since reporters were unable to cover the proceedings, the information had to be solicited from the deputy public prosecutor once the hearing was over.

“If not having direct access to information continues to become a norm, journalists risk misquoting or are not able to present neutral and reliable information,” it said yesterday. - Mkini