updated version

Umno Youth today lodged a police report against five foreign media agencies for "implying that the police were trying to hide information from the public with regard to the Taman Medan clashes".

Umno Youth chief publicity officer Azimi Daim said that the report was lodged at the Dang Wangi police station this morning, and the media named are Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post , Paris-based International Herald Tribune , London-based The Times and international wires Agence France Presse and Associated Press .

"The articles in these foreign media quoted the opposition's statements on the clashes in Taman Medan but did not quote the official sources, such as the police. This gave the impression that the police were trying to hide information from the public. By only quoting the opposition, the public will read that the police are indeed trying to hide information on the clashes," said Azimi, also an Umno supreme council member.

"The media should refer to the official sources. By not doing so, the public will be confused as to which is the truth and this should not be the case."

Azimi, who was accompanied by about 30 people, mostly from Umno Youth and its publicity bureau, said that he hopes the police will investigate these foreign media and take the appropriate action.

In his police report, Azimi gave an example of a photo which appeared in an article on The Times website on March 12, which he regarded as irresponsible.

In the article headlined [#1] 'Five killed in Malaysia riots'[/#] written by James Pringle, a photo of Malay teenagers holding iron pipes and other weapons was captioned, "Malay youths armed with makeshift weapons such as sticks and iron pipes roamed Kuala Lumpur's suburbs yesterday in search of ethnic Indians".

Violent clashes

Violent clashes in Petaling Jaya Selatan at Kampung Medan and its vicinity since March 9 resulted in six killed and 52 injured. The clashes were reported to have continued for four days. About 600 police personnel have been stationed at the affected areas to maintain public order.

The police also arrested about 220 people who were believed to be involved in the clashes. Most of them have been charged in court under the 1958 Corrosive and Explosive Substances and Offensive Weapons Act, the 1967 Police Act and the Penal Code.

Last week, the police lodged a report against opposition leaders for claiming that the death toll of the communal clashes in Petaling Selatan could be higher than the figure given by the police. A police report was also said to have been lodged against Internet news website malaysiakini .