'Don't contact Penang police chief' directive draws flak

 

In a bizarre development, journalists have been barred from contacting Penang police chief Khaw Kok Chin for comment.

The move has courted criticism from a journalists’ group, which claimed that it stifled media freedom.

Kelab Media Mutiara Pulau Pinang (Mutiara) was responding to a statement from the public relations officer of the Penang police headquarters who informed journalists that Khaw would only make official statements “after obtaining all the verified and ‘corrected’ information” regarding a particular case.

The officer, according to the journalists’ group, added that responses from Khaw (above) obtained on a personal basis after curi-curi (furtively) contacting him would be considered invalid and cannot be used as the police chief’s official response.

The officer also said that “taking news from journalists who are personal with the police chief is considered a violation of journalistic ethics”.

However, there was no reason mentioned for the directive.

Crosses the line

Khaw was in the news recently after it was revealed that he received a threat following the crackdown on loan-sharking activities in the state.

The threat was in the form of a letter addressed to the police chief which contained “hell notes” and a warning to stop the operation against the unlicensed money lenders.

Meanwhile, Mutiara said the police chief should be allowed to respond to queries from journalists if he is willing to do so.

“To restrict media practitioners from contacting him is excessive.

“What is more disappointing is the allegation (that journalists) ‘curi-curi’ contact him, which crosses the line and insults media practitioners,” it said in a statement this afternoon.

The group also criticised the directive that Khaw’s responses to journalists who contact him cannot be regarded as an official statement.

“Mutiara classifies this as ‘buta kewartawanan’ (media illiterate) which is completely unacceptable because all statements made with a sound mind and awareness are considered official and valid, unless given ‘off-record'," it added. - Mkini