Sibu crime reporters have gone into 'observation mode' on whether alternative arrangements the police have made can be effective to help them source for crime news, with one saying that the new arrangement may not be convenient for them to do their work.

On Tuesday, the reporters representing both English,Chinese and Malay newspapers and a news agency held a dialogue with the Sibu police chief ACP Sebastian Gaong after he barred them from entering the central police station in Sibu to source for crime news.

Gaong said he did not want the reporters to go and interview complainants, for fear their reporting could jeopardise police investigations into crime cases and exposing the identities of some victims.

The ban imposed on crime reporters from the central police station located right in the heart of the town followed daily media reports on recent surge in violent crime cases and public comments on many unresolved crimes in Sibu.

The ban angered reporters and the matter came to a head after comments by opposition politicians and journalist associations. Sarawak Police Commissioner DCP Talib Jamal also defended his Sibu police chief saying there were good reasons for the move.

Yesterday, Deputy Minister of Local Government and Housing Robert Lau, who is also Sibu MP, asked the two sides to mend their tiff and end what he called the 'sour relationship.'

Resolved for now

Gaong told malaysiakini today that as far as he was concerned, the matter had been resolved for now.

"I had a meeting with them on Tuesday, and we discussed what should be done," he said.

He said he had arranged for crime reporters to call or see him and that he was prepared to answers any question on crime.

Gaong said he was the only police officer authorised to make press statements in Sibu, and in his absence his deputy Han Hipeni.

Commenting on this, a Sibu reporter who asked not to be identified said: "Yes, there was a dialogue attended by reporters and police. We are still observing before we make any comment."

He said, however, the new arrangements might not prove convenient as it would not allow the media access to the latest news.

"We might end up with yesterday's news," he added.