Two bodies were found in an oil palm plantation this morning and journalists had rushed to the scene to gather the details.

However, instead of the gruesome discovery making the news, it was a police officer at the scene who stole the limelight by verbally abusing the journalists.

The incident, which happened in Baling, Kedah, saw the journalists filing a police report against the assistant superintendent of police (ASP) with the Tawar police station later.

In his report, ntv7 part-time cameraman Muhammad Ridzuan Osman, 21, claimed that the police officer had chased the journalists away from the scene and called them " anjing " (dog).

According to Bernama , the police officer was also heard to have ordered his men to release a dog from the K9 Unit for the purpose of chasing away the journalists.

'Lepaskan anjing'

The incident happened after Kedah CID chief ACP Mohd Zakaria Ahmad held a press conference at the Bukit Hijau Oil Palm Plantation where police found two bodies.

The journalists, who were there since 8am, were not allowed to take pictures even though they were outside the police cordon.

When the photographers and journalists were about to take pictures of the bodies being carried into a police vehicle, the ASP shouted " Jangan masuk, anjing !" (Don't enter, dogs!) and " Lepaskan anjing !" (Release the dog!).

Kosmo journalist Othman Yahya, 45, said the officer should have emulated Mohd Zakaria who behaved civilly with the media representatives.

Tamil Nesan journalist ML Maran, 56, said since he became a journalist, this was the first time he confronted a police officer who did not respect a journalist's work.

Kedah Media Club chairman Mohd Zahari Morad said he would issue a statement on the incident tomorrow.

More CCTVs

In another development, local authorities have been urged to install more closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras at crime-prone spots in efforts to curb snatch thefts and wayside robberies in.

Housing and Local Government Minister Ong Ka Ting said he would propose to the cabinet to approve additional allocations for local councils to purchase CCTVs.

Ong said he would forward the proposal after receiving feedback from related agencies.

"I met menteris besar and chief ministers at the recent national local government council meeting to discuss installation of more CCTVs at strategic spots.

"I'm preparing to bring this matter to the cabinet," he was quoted as saying by Bernama .