Penang PKR Youth has targetted the mainstream media, especially pro-Umno Malay language daily, Berita Harian , over an allegedly doctored photo of a July 9 protestor.

In the interest of media ethics, the wing urged the newspaper to "withdraw, apologise and stop the publication" of any images or articles on the Bersih 2.0 rally which can cause tension among the people.

newspaper reports on bersih2 rally 100711 new straits times The article which appeared in Berita Harian on Sunday headlined "KL Tegang (KL tense)" featured the same photo about seven times in various pages.

A similar photo, now the subject of widespread criticism online, had also been featured on Berita Harian's sister newspaper New Sunday Times ’ front page, wraparound picture on the same day.

Featuring a man wearing a white T-shirt with a black cloth wrapped around his face, the photo depicted the former holding what appeared to be the handle of a knife.

All around him was smoke, reportedly tear gas fired by police earlier to prevent thousands of protesters from marching from various points in the city to Stadium Merdeka to demand for electoral reforms.

penang pkr youth on doctored photo 120711 amir ghazali State PKR Youth chief Amir Ghazali ( left ) said the party regrets the newspaper's action and accused it of "editing the photo to make the protester appear "violent".

"Or it could be that the newspaper merely published what was sent to them?" he queried.

"Whatever it is, Berita Harian has made a big mistake by demonising the peaceful protesters at the Bersih 2.0 rally who came without weapons," he added.

Berita Harian is published by the New Straits Times Press (NSTP),  a Malaysian conglomerate of publishing companies, owned by Media Prima.

Other than Berita Harian and New Straits Times , the NSTP publishes several other newspapers, including Harian Metro .

'Neither doctored nor manipulated'

According to the company's clarification yesterday, "these rumours alleged that the man pictured allegedly about to throw something at Federal Reserve Unit policemen was “an Arab” superimposed on a picture of Bersih 2.0 demonstrators running away from tear gas on Saturday.

"This is an insult to the dedicated press photographers who were tirelessly working throughout the city, at times putting their own safety at risk, to capture these images for readers," the clarification added.

NSTP photo editor Zahari Zakaria has refuted allegations that the photo was edited, saying it was "neither doctored nor manipulated".

penang pkr youth on doctored photo 120711 trio When told about the explanation from the publishing group, Amir said the Youth wing had consulted photography experts and several bloggers to substantiate the authenticity of the photo.

He added that the 'experts' revealed that the original photo of the man carrying a Malaysian flag had been blurred, with the handle of the flag allegedly edited to look like a knife.

As one of the oldest newspapers in Malaysia, Berita Harian should try to set a good example in matters of news publication, he quipped.

Legal suit mulled

Meanwhile, PAS organ Harakah reported that the man in the controversial photo, a member of PAS' ‘Unit Amal’ volunteer corp, has condemned the media for using his image to make him look bad.

The man, known only as ‘Ajak’, threatened to sue the newspapers for malicious and mala fide intent, unless it publishes the original photo.

He said he was carrying only a hand-held 'Jalur Gemilang' flag and was in KL that day to join PAS in rally for electoral reforms.

Last Saturday, Ajak had joined the crowd at the Maybank, which was led by PAS central committee member Dr Mohamad Hatta Ramli.