KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Media Council has urged the police to allow the media to cover the eviction exercise at Kampung Sungai Baru, stressing that journalists play a vital role in ensuring transparency.
In a statement on Friday (Sept 12), the council said that while it respected the role of the police in maintaining public order, the media must also be given space to carry out its duty of reporting events of public interest.
“Such reporting will ensure transparency and accountability of all parties, and allow the public to receive trusted accounts of events, rather than relying on unsourced information being circulated online,” the statement added.
The council stressed that restricting media access could undermine public trust, especially in the age of artificial intelligence, when videos and images can be created.
“Shutting the media out does not align with the vision of an informed society,” the statement read.
The council suggested that the police work closely with both the media and the council to ensure that journalists are allowed access to cover such events while preserving public order.
