Sibu police chief Sebastian Gaong has confirmed barring reporters from entering the central police station to gather information related to crime-related news, for fear that they may "jeopardise" investigations.

However, the directive has not affected the journalists' access to police personnel. They will, for instance, be able to meet him daily at the divisional police headquarters at 9.30am to pursue crime reports.

"There is no one at the central police station who is authorised to speak to the press," Sebastian said, to explain his directive.

He denied earlier newspaper reports that he had issued a directive preventing reporters from going to the central police station.

He said his rationale was only to discourage reporters from interviewing complainants who go there to lodge police reports.

The move would also protect prospective witnesses from being identified, he said, as it would otherwise be difficult for police to investigate certain cases.

Sebastian also called for "fair reporting based on the facts of the case and not on comment".

However, asked to respond to public perceptions that the incidence of crime is out of control in Sibu, he said: "I don't want to comment on that."

Move 'inappropriate'

Sebastian's directive was apparently prompted by a local tabloid's coverage of a recent case of a snatch theft involving a pregnant woman, accompanied by the editorial comment about Sibu having become a dangerous place.

Responding, Federation of Sarawak Journalists Associations president Leslie Chin described the directive as "inappropriate and unwise".

He said it was wrong to impose a blanket decision if this had been triggered by an isolated incident.

"You can always call the reporters up and talk to them. We must arrive at a win-win situation for our mutual benefit," he said.

Chin said the central police station in any city or town is a source of information for crime reporters to obtain details when police reports are lodged.

Yesterday, Sarawak DAP chairperson Wong Ho Leng described the decision (as reported in newspapers) as "uncalled for and an attempt to practise an ostrich policy".

"If it is true (that there is a directive), then it is wrong and unnecessary. They are trying to hide from the public," he said.

The police are said to be unhappy with recent media reports highlighting what has been described as sloppy policing in the face of violent crimes.

Criticism has also been mounting over unresolved cases, including murders, kidnappings and extortions in Sibu, a timber-rich town in Sarawak.

Police, however, said their hands are tied in prosecuting cases as they are finding it difficult to persuade witnesses to give testimony.

Sarawak CID chief Abdul Razak Abdul Hassan has assured the people of Sibu that the identities of informants will be kept secret by the police.