NUJ upset over expulsion of journalistThe National Union of Journalists Peninsular Malaysia (NUJM) today expressed regret over the action of Selangor Pakatan Rakyat Elected Representatives Officers Association (Selproa) secretary Ng Yap Hwa chasing away Utusan Malaysia reporter Yazid Alias from a news conference yesterday.

NUJM president Norila Daud said Ng's claim that Yazid was from a government propaganda tool was improper and only showed a narrow-minded view of the democratic system which the opposition Pakatan claimed to uphold.

"As a reporter, Yazid should have been allowed to attend the news conference as it was related to a government matter and not something confidential which had to be kept away from local reporters," she said in a statement.

Norila said news of the 85 members of Selproa urging the attorney-general to withdraw an application against the Selangor menteri besar’s circular preventing civil servants from being questioned outside of their office and only during office hours by Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) officers was something which had to be disseminated to the people via the media.

The Star newspaper reported today that Ng had chased out Yazid, claiming that the daily he represented was a “federal government agent”.

Norila said the NUJM hoped that all quarters in Pakatan would be more sensitive, adopt a professional attitude and understand the job of journalists who conveyed news to the people who had voted them into power.

"NUJM once again stresses that no one can stop journalists from covering government matters which are linked to the welfare of the people," she said.

She said Malaysia was a democratic country and the media had a role to report whatever the government did for the people.

- Bernama