If the video of Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi berating a Malaysiakini journalist is anything to go by, politicians' conduct toward reporters has "deteriorated" over the past decades.

Former The Star journalist Peter Kandiah, who contacted Malaysiakini to share his views, said that even in the 1980s, when newspapers were shut down, politicians had not publicly humiliated or berated reporters in that manner.

"Even (then prime minister) Dr Mahathir Mohamad was not that bad. He used to tick off people, but never in this way. He was sarcastic with the foreign media, but he did not beat his chest about it.

"Although of course he had other ways, like using the press secretary to contact the papers and to take reporters off certain beats for local press.

"Even (then International Trade and Industry Minister) Rafidah Aziz would get angry and tick people off, but never this unbecoming. (Zahid) came off like a sick, mad fellow," he said.

Now a labour advocate with the Malaysian Trades Union Congress, Kandiah was National Union of Journalists acting secretary-general during 1987, when three newspapers were shut down.

He served with The Star and later with international publications like the Nikkei Business Publication and The Economist as its South-East Asia correspondent.

Kandiah said Zahid should know that he has other forms of recourse if Malaysiakini had indeed 'spun' his words.

"As a senior minister, he should conduct himself in a proper manner and sit down with the editors to raise concerns if he has any," he said, adding that legal recourse is also available.

Zahid on Friday had berated a Malaysiakini journalist who had attempted to ask the minister about the 44 weapons lost by the police, as reported by the auditor-general in his 2012 report.

'Accused of spinning his words'

The minister accused the portal of "spinning" his words, refused to allow any questions by Malaysiakini and approached the journalist after the press conference to continue his tirade.

Speaking out against the "harassment", Malaysiakini co-founders Steven Gan and Premesh Chandran said neither Zahid nor his ministry have ever made any complaints to the portal about its reports.

In another statement today, Penang Gerakan secretary Oh Tong Keong hit out at Ahmad Zahid for his tirade against the media, calling it a stunt ahead of his party’s elections.

“As a politician, he should expect that the media will pick up on what he says.

“So he should think carefully before speaking and not shoot his mouth and then blame the media,” he said.

Oh urged Ahmad Zahid to apologise to the media, including for his threat to shut down several dailies.

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