Police waiting for JIPS report on alleged harassment of media personnel

IPOH - The police are waiting for a full report from the Integrity and Standard Compliance Department (JIPS) before taking further action against a minister's escort officers who allegedly harassed some female journalists during the Pulai by-election campaign last week.

Deputy Inspector-General of Police Datuk Seri Ayob Khan Mydin Pitchay said that Johor police had opened the disciplinary investigation papers regarding the incident.

"We will wait for the report from JIPS first and take appropriate action according to the results of the investigation," he told reporters after officiating the Air Force's 44th anniversary celebration at the Air Force Training Base today.

Ayob said that he had been informed that the incident happened when the minister was walking to his vehicle and the escort officer was trying to ensure that the route was safe.

"So in the media's eagerness to get (the minister's) comments, there might have been an isolated incident and so on.

"In this case, we need to hear (explanations) from both sides before taking further action," he said.

The Johor Media Club in a previous statement claimed that some escort officers had stopped media practitioners by allegedly pulling the hand of a female journalist who was recording a press conference.

The escort officers were also accused of pinching the back of another female journalist several times to stop her from carrying out her duty.

The police have urged anyone with information about the incident to come forward.