The Association of Malaysian Media Photographers (MPPA) has denied claims by family members of MH17 crash victims that they had asked for privacy prior to the altercation at a funeral on Tuesday.

“We deny the next-of-kin’s statement on Facebook that the media had been told not to cover the event,” MPPA president Zainal Abdul Halim said in his police report yesterday.

Zainal was referring to Facebook postings by the next-of-kin of MH17 victims Malaysian actress Shuba Jaya, her Dutch husband Paul Goes and their infant daughter Kaela on the altercation at Nirvana Memorial Centre.

Family members claimed they did not want media coverage and repeatedly told the press photographers who showed up uninvited not to snap any pictures.

They claim that New Straits Times photographer Aizuddin Saad was punched by a family member after he ignored their call for privacy. 

They also blamed Nirvana for allowing the media in to the event and Malaysia Airlines (MAS) for allegedly releasing the information on the funeral to the media, but MAS has denied this.

‘Extremely rude ’

Speaking to reporters after lodging the report at the Sungai Besi police station, Zainal ( right ) said MPPA did so because the incident took place at a closed venue.

“I can understand if incidents like this happen in protests. Emotions are high. But this happened in a closed area. I feel that this is extremely rude ( biadap ),” he said.

Zainal said Aizuddin was not the only photographer attacked. Utusan Malaysia photographer Rushdi Salleh was also attacked at the same event.

The president of MPPA also reiterated that an investigation must be made on the individual who broke the photographer's nose and damaged his equipment.

“It is the duty and responsibility of a press photographer to convey information to the public. This inhuman and rude treatment of a press photographer is unacceptable,” he said.

Aizuddin has declined to be interviewed on the family’s claims.