YOURSAY 'I don't want this to be a way to control the media coverage. It is critical that we get transparent press coverage of everything that transpires.'

Police marshals to accompany media covering rally

Malaysian Born: The role of the marshals should instead be as an independent check on the behaviour of their fellow police officers in the field.

The press generally is not in any danger from the participants of the rally. Their role is just to document everything that happens, as it happens.

It is not the role of the police or the marshals to prevent the press from documenting what they see even if there is inappropriate behaviour on the part of authorities or rally participants.

I certainly appreciate the comments from the authorities about wanting to make the rally safe and without problems.

I just don't want this to be a way to control the media coverage of the event. It is of critical importance that we get transparent press coverage of everything that transpires.

Abasir: Marshal the media to specific locations and you control the gathering of news and capture of images, and therefore control the way the news is communicated in words and images.

But our ‘sing for your supper' or ‘cari makan' media will do that all by themselves without the aid of police marshals. So this must be a ploy to control the more independent new media.

Chipmunk: I guess what Federal Reserve Unit (FRU) chief Abdul Hamid Mohd Ali is trying to say is "only cover what we instruct you to cover", and not publish what the Umno gangsters will be doing. Period.

Boiling Mud: From what this FRU chief has said - that they wouldn't kacau (disturb) as long as they are not kacau - it gets me wondering if this is all there is regarding police professionalism.

Didn't they go through training to react calmly under the most adverse situations and not run amok and beat people up?

Where did we get all these guys who are in the police force? School dropouts?

Mahashitla: This is a strange action by the police and may give the impression of press censorship. Media personnel would want to stay where the action is.

They will know what to do. It is not necessary for the police to facilitate their movements or tell them which areas are safe to cover, and even pull them out when things turn bad. They are professionals and they are there to cover the news, even in war zones.

It was the police who whacked the reporters, not even one of the 200,000 Bersih 3.0 demonstrators.

These 50 police marshals should be better deployed to facilitate the movements of the huge crowd expected instead.

Appum: Any proactive action from the police is welcome. Nowadays, almost everyone is armed with a mobile phone that can record events.

So just keep recording when anything untoward happens and upload for all to see. I'm sure the police are aware of that.

LiarsSlaughter: It seems like the police are finally intending to go for an improvement and are adopting some changes to improve their image. It is a good sign.

Borg Kinaulu: This is a reasonably good and friendly gesture from the PDRM. We should welcome it.

However healthy suspicion is unavoidable until the men in uniform prove to be good to their word on the day itself, and in all future events.

Malaysia ABU: "Accompany media personnel to areas which are deemed safe to cover, and pull them out when things turn bad."

Do that means, when police start being brutal, the media will be pulled out so that they can't cover the actual happenings?

2zzzxxx: "As long as the media personnel do not interfere with police work...". Rephrasing is needed here.

It actually means "as long as the media personnel do not photograph or record videos when Umno's police, without name tags, whack innocent participants to pulp."

Madcow: Is this a joke? It was the police who beat the living daylight out of journalists, not the protestors. So why the need for marshals?

Anonyxyz: "Just find one colour that does not match any of the participants' colours, then you will be very safe," said Abdul Hamid. This statement has a hidden meaning... certain colours will not be safe.

MW: Will the police marshals stop journalists from taking incriminating photos/videos?

Mirror On The Wall: In other words, they will shield you from seeing what they are going to do thereby preventing you from reporting and photographing their tomfoolery.

Anonymous#007: I am still unsure why the police are only protecting journalists. Their job is to protect everyone.

Sure, they have a security plan for the journalists. But what about a security plan for the participants? After all, there have been several proven incidences of violent acts by pro-BN supporters.

Have these thugs been prosecuted and jailed to ensure they do not repeat such despicable acts?

Anonymous #06659895: I smell something rotten, even though I have flu. Media personnel, why are you all so pampered?

We are paying the salary of police and media personnel are being paid by their organisations. Yet they get extra protection.

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