Umno Youth exco member Armand Azha Abu Hanifah has apologised on behalf of red-shirts leader Jamal Md Yunos over an incident that saw journalists being roughed up by the anti-Bersih group.

Jamal was supposed to visit English daily The Star’s office today in light of the incident, but his plan took a back seat due to his two-day remand.

“We were informed that Jamal was supposed to go to The Star today to apologise if there had indeed been such incidents faced by any reporters on duty that day.

“Today, on behalf of Jamal, I want to apologise if such incidents had indeed happened to journalists," Armand told reporters outside the Dang Wangi district police headquarters today.

Armand said the incident was not planned and had occurred “spontaneously”.

Asked whether he would go to The Star on Jamal's behalf, Armand said he will remain at the Dang Wangi district police headquarters today. 

“Maybe after Jamal is released, we will straight away go to The Star to meet with journalists there.

“Don’t worry, we will go to The Star to meet with the editors and the other staff there to solve the problem that had occurred," he said.

Last Saturday, anti-Bersih individuals forced a videographer from The Star to delete his video footage of them confronting Bersih supporters in Kuala Selangor.

A reporter from The Star was also held by the collar of her shirt while forced to delete her pictures and video footage. Her colleague was roughed up as he tried to intervene.

A Malaysiakini reporter was similarly roughed up for trying to intervene on the female reporter's behalf.

Earlier that same day, a Malaysiakini photographer was threatened and punched after she took pictures of a separate anti-Bersih group gathering nearby.

As she was about to go to her car to leave the area, the photographer was punched on her shoulder and called 'Cina babi' (Chinese pig) by the men.

Following the scuffles, three men were subsequently detained.