Ismail: NSC discussing media SOP for event organisers
The National Security Council (NSC) is in the process of preparing a standard operating procedure (SOP) for event organisers that required media presence at their functions held during the conditional movement control order (MCO) period.
This follows a viral photograph taken at the National Mosque on Friday which showed media personnel packed within an enclosed area while trying to shoot the first Friday prayer session held since March 18 when the MCO was first enforced...
The National Security Council (NSC) is in the process of preparing a standard operating procedure (SOP) for event organisers that required media presence at their functions held during the conditional movement control order (MCO) period.
This follows a viral photograph taken at the National Mosque on Friday which showed media personnel packed within an enclosed area while trying to shoot the first Friday prayer session held since March 18 when the MCO was first enforced.
Quizzed on details of the proposed standard operating procedure, Defence Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob said: "About the standard operating procedure for organisers that needed media coverage, InsyaAllah (God willing), NSC is preparing it."
Ismail yesterday alluded to the viral photograph and urged media personnel to abide by Covid-19 prevention guidelines which include maintaining a safe social distance while on duty.
The photograph was widely shared on social media with mostly disparaging remarks made against the journalists on duty who were accused of potentially sparking a new Covid-19 infections cluster.
Malaysiakini understands that the National Mosque mosque administration had allocated a limited space for all media personnel present, rather them allowing them to maintain a distance among themselves.
It is also believed that the viral photograph was taken by an individual with access to move and shoot outside the cordoned area.
Press freedom groups, as well as the National Union of Journalists Malaysia, had previously spoken out against media restrictions imposed in the name of adherence to Covid-19 prevention guidelines.
Rather than limiting access, the groups pointed to the Health Ministry's daily briefings by director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah that is open to all media but with SOP for safe media coverage which could be applied across all functions.
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