BUKIT MERTAJAM: Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s constant bashing of the mainstream media during political campaigns might have aggravated his supporters into behaving aggressively against media personnel.

Admitting that this might have been the reason which led his supporters to turn unruly towards the media, the Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) advisor said: “I agree … I will do (the explanation to the public that the attack was only on media policies and not on media personnel) from tonight.

“It is never our intention to question or harm reporters or (members of) the media.”

Speaking at a press conference at the PKR media centre in Yayasan Aman, Kubang Semang near here yesterday, Anwar said his criticism of the mainstream media “should not be construed as personal attacks” against media personnel but the policy of the (their) companies.

“You are right to question (me) to remind our friends and supporters, (but) our position is that we don’t want biased, malicious and vicious (reporting) in the midst of election,” he said in response to questions on yesterday’s attack of two media photographers, including a foreign photographer, by a group of men wearing vests and t-shirts with the party emblem on it.

In the 1.30pm incident, New Straits Times Press (M) Berhad (NSTP) photographer Mohd Sairen Mohd Nafis, 26, and Halim Berbar from HBL Press News in France were subjected to mob assaults near the nomination centre at the Tuanku Bainun Teaching Institute, Mengkuang near here.

Anwar said: “Journalists are not at fault, but the editorial policies are.”

However, he said the party would investigate the matter, and added that the party will not tolerate or condone anyone who was at fault.

On Aug 3, a photographer from Chinese daily Guang Ming Daily, Loh Hooi Hoon, was roughed up by a group of men, believed to be PKR supporters, while covering a ceramah (political talk) by Anwar in Seberang Jaya near here.

Touching on Puteri Umno’s claims that a group of PKR men fondled their buttocks during the gathering at the nomination centre Saturday, Anwar said they should make a police report so that investigations could be carried out.

— Bernama