Tuesday August 5, 2008 MYT 9:30:10 PM
Wan Azizah apologises to photographer
GEORGE TOWN: PKR president Datuk Seri Wan Azizah Wan Ismail has apologised to a Guang Ming Daily photographer who was allegedly assaulted by a group of party supporters on Sunday.
The photographer, Loh Huay Hoon, 25, said she received a call from Wan Azizah at 11.40am on Tuesday.
"Wan Azizah said she was shocked to see a picture of me being attacked by a group of men in the newspapers," said Loh.
Loh had lodged a police report on Monday saying she was kicked, choked and hit on the head by some of the men in the group.
The men had tailed her to the carpark after a ceramah (political address) by PKR de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim at the Seberang Jaya Expo site.
“Wan Azizah told me ‘nampak gambar pun takut sebab orang itu big man’ (She too would be afraid upon seeing the huge man in the picture). She apologised profusely many times and said PKR would conduct an internal investigation on the matter,” said Loh. Wan Azizah, she added, explained that the security personnel were jittery that night as somebody had found a bullet at the expo site.
“She said Anwar was also angry with the security personnel because they were strict with the crowd when the people tried to shake hands with him,” said Loh.
Loh believed she was attacked after an exchange of words with security personnel who tried to stop her from moving closer to snap pictures of Anwar during the forum.
“Wan Azizah said PKR had never stopped photographers from taking pictures and had reminded the security personnel not to obstruct photographers from doing their job as it was good for the party. She also said she did not want a repeat of the incident.”
Loh said the conversation lasted about five minutes and she accepted Wan Azizah’s apology.
Central Seberang Prai OCPD Asst Comm Dr Mohd Shah Hussin Shah said police were trying to identify the men who allegedly attacked Loh, based on a press photograph.
They would also call up the photographer who snapped the shot to have his statement taken. The photographer, who was a witness to the incident, had helped pull Loh from the mob and asked her to leave onto her motorcycle.
Meanwhile, Penang Gerakan condemned the attack and called for a thorough police investigation into the incident.
It also expressed concern that more of such violent acts could occur and cause unnecessary tension and unrest amongst the people, with the Permatang Pauh by-election coming up.
Guang Ming Daily executive chief editor Tan Aye Choo said she was very upset and sad over the incident which showed a lack of respect for reporters and photographers.
“We reserve the right to seek legal action. After this case, we hope such incidents will not recur,” she told newsmen.
Asked about a proposed move to boycott PKR functions by the Malaysian Chinese Photo Journalists Association, Tan said the company would not do so but declined to comment.
Later, several politicians from PKR, DAP and Gerakan visited Loh at the Guang Ming Daily headquarters at Macalister Road to express their concern.
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