Cops probe claims that six media personnel trespassed at Maeps
The police are investigating allegations that six media personnel trespassed on the grounds of the Malaysia Agro Exposition Park Serdang (Maeps) Covid-19 quarantine centre on the day of the planned Hartal Doktor Kontrak (HDK) strike.
Sepang deputy OCPD Md Noor Aehawan Mohamed confirmed that the police have recorded the statements of 17 Health Ministry personnel including doctors and nurses, over the matter...
- UPDATED 5:30PM: Includes clarifications from Selangor police chief Arjunaidi Mohamed about the investigation.
The police are investigating allegations that six media personnel trespassed on the grounds of the Malaysia Agro Exposition Park Serdang (Maeps) Covid-19 quarantine centre on the day of the planned Hartal Doktor Kontrak (HDK) strike.
Sepang deputy OCPD Md Noor Aehawan Mohamed confirmed that the police have recorded the statements of 17 Health Ministry personnel including doctors and nurses, over the matter.
“The police report was lodged by the Maeps quarantine centre management team yesterday. The area concerned is a hall that housed 496 Covid-19 positive female patients.
"The hall has been gazetted as a quarantine and treatment centre, and outsiders cannot enter without permission," he said in a statement today.
Unlike staff in other major hospitals, those planning to strike at Maeps chose not to participate following threats of arrest prior to the planned demonstration, which was to have taken place at 11am on July 26.
Aehawan said investigations were being carried out under Section 448 of the Penal Code for trespassing and Rule 17(1) of the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases (Measures Within Infection Local Areas) Regulations 2021.
“Once the investigations are completed, we will submit the investigation papers to the deputy public prosecutor for further action,” he added.
Earlier Malaysiakini reported that police had gone to the premises and questioned 12 Maeps staff members from 11.30pm to 3.45am, according to lawyer Asheeq Ali who represents the HDK group.
Frontliners not investigated
Following the uproar over the questioning, including during today’s Dewan Rakyat sitting, police came forward to clarify that no healthcare workers were under investigation over last Monday’s “Hartal Doktor Kontrak” strike.
Instead, they were questioned to assist with a probe into the alleged trespassing.
Selangor police chief Arjunaidi Mohamed stressed the matter in an online press conference this afternoon.
“We are not investigating doctors for holding up placards. We are not investigating the matter. I want to clarify that we have not detected any offences.
“What we are investigating is the (alleged) trespassing after the Maeps director lodged a report at 4pm yesterday,” he said.
As for why the healthcare workers were questioned through the night, Arjunaidi said this was to accommodate those on the night shift.
“The doctors came into work from 8pm to 8am. So if we recorded their statements today after 8am, that would have been after their shift and they would have been tired.
“We were being considerate. We questioned them one at a time during their shift with permission from the Maeps management team,” he explained.
Media trespassed protected area
Arjunaidi stressed that the six media personnel were under investigation because they entered Maeps sans permission.
Not only is it a protected area, but he said they had also put themselves as well as others at risk of Covid-19 infection.
The six will be hauled in for questioning as soon as possible.
Asked how the media were able to enter Maeps when police were guarding its outer perimeters, he said this warranted investigation.
“This is why we need to investigate who brought them in and how they got in.
“If we don’t investigate, we won’t know how they entered the place,” he answered.
Pressed on why the police were infringing on the media’s freedom to report on the strike, Arjunaidi said police had a duty to protect citizens from walking into harm.
“We give the media freedom, we have never restricted media freedom.
“But we cannot allow the media to walk in, to commit suicide. It is as simple as that. If we know an area is dangerous or has a fire, should we allow people to enter that area? No, we can’t.
“It is our responsibility to ensure the rakyat’s safety,” he said.
Additional reporting by ANNABELLE LEE.
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