Johor cops yet to receive reports from two women allegedly harassed by bodyguards

MUAR: The police have yet to receive reports on the two female media practitioners who were allegedly touched and pinched by the bodyguards of a minister while covering the Pulai by-election.

Deputy Inspector-General of Police Datuk Seri Ayob Khan Mydin Pitchay said that the police are also waiting for a statement from the ministry involved.

"So far, we have yet to receive a police report regarding the incident.

"At the moment, we have only heard the media's version of it but I have yet to receive a full report on the incident.

"We will wait for official statements from the Federal side (ministry)," he told reporters when met after visiting SJKC Pei Chai on polling day here on Saturday (Sept 9).

He said this when asked about a statement from the Johor Media Club (KMJ) on the alleged rough treatment of media practitioners, including the incidents involving the two female reporters, by the bodyguards of a minister.

In a statement Friday (Sept 8), KMJ president Mohamad Fauzi Ishak said the incidents took place during two ceramah programmes for the Pulai parliamentary by-election in Taman Anggerik and Taman Dahlia on Tuesday (Sept 5), which was attended by the minister.

"Some of the minister’s bodyguards tried to obstruct media personnel from carrying out their duties, where one of them allegedly touched a female reporter’s hand a few times while she was recording the press conference with her smartphone.

"At another ceramah, one of his bodyguards pinched another female reporter’s lower back a few times while a standing press conference with the minister was ongoing.

"The reporter’s voice saying 'jangan sentuh saya' (do not touch me) could even be heard in the voice recording of the press conference.

"At the same event, one of the bodyguards was said to have shoved a photographer’s camera while he was taking photos of the press conference," he said in a statement on Friday (Sept 8).