Not that easy to be called journalist, Geramm tells 'pressman' KJ

Gerakan Media Merdeka (Geramm) has reminded self-styled “pressman” Khairy Jamaluddin that one does not easily qualify to be a reporter.

This comes after the former health minister considered his “Keluar Sekejap” podcast with co-host Shahril Sufian Hamdan as part of the press corps.

However, the journalist group said they appreciated the duo's solidarity with Malaysiakini journalists who are being investigated over a report regarding a reshuffle of the police top brass.

"Thank you for your solidarity with #kawangeramm from Malaysiakini.

"However, it is not that easy for one to be called a journalist," the group said in a statement yesterday.

In their latest podcast episode, Khairy and Shahril discussed the issue of police investigation against Malaysiakini journalists.

In a brief banter, Shahril quipped, "Oh, they are now our friends?" and Khairy responded, "Yes because we are now press, right? We are KS Media."

"In conjunction with us identifying ourselves as media, we want to be in solidarity with the media," he added.

During his stints as Umno Youth chief and youth and sports minister, Khairy targeted Malaysiakini journalists on at least two occasions in 2017 and even accused the portal of being a "purveyor of one-sided journalism".

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