K KANGSAR POLLS Rosmah Mansor’s aide Rizal Mansor has decried what he believes was Rafizi Ramli’s attempt at obstructing the free press, after he was barred from attending the PKR secretary-general's press conference.

Rizal, earlier, was at Parti Amanah Negara’s (Amanah) headquarters in Kuala Kangsar hoping to attend the press conference there.

Rizal said he had come all the way from Kuala Lumpur to take notes at the event, so that he could prepare answers to the PKR secretary-general’s claims on Rosmah’s recent use of a private jet.

Rafizi’s arrival, however, led to a scuffle between the media and Amanah staff members who insisted only members of the press were allowed in.

Malaysiakini and Perak Amanah Youth vice chief Hasnul Zulkarnain got into a war of words after the latter prevented one of its writers from covering the press event.

Malaysiakini was allowed in after Rafizi confirmed the writer was a media personnel.

Rizal, however, was prevented from entering the premise.

“It seems that my presence is not welcomed. He does not want me to go upstairs and this does not symbolise the free press that he always speaks of.

“It’s not like I want to do something unexpected. I just want to sit and if I can't do that, I would stand and take down notes,” he later told reporters.

Rizal, however, said he was more than ready should Rafizi decide to meet him personally.

“If he really wants the truth (on the matter) then he can come to our office and ask us nicely.”

Rafizi, he added, should not only be brave in front of a microphone.

“We can see his true intentions here. If he's really brave he would not only be brave in front of a microphone but would be brave to face me, too.”

Rafizi last week revealed that the prime minister's wife had used a private jet for a trip to Istanbul, Turkey, last month.

Apart from press conferences, the PKR parliamentarian said that a special ceramah will be held tonight to reveal more details on issue.

A replica of a jet will also be launched tonight.