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Six cases of physical attacks against journalists were reported last year compared with four in 2007, Deputy Home Minister Datuk Chor Chee Heung said.
One of the cases reported last year was in Perlis, where three people were charged under Section 323 of the Penal Code in the Kangar Magistrates Court on Dec 6. They were fined RM500 each and all paid their fines, he said.
In Kedah, one case was reported in 2008 and 2007 each. Both cases were referred to the Deputy Public Prosecutor for further action.
In Kuala Lumpur, two cases were reported in 2008. The first, involving a journalist from The Edge business weekly, was still being investigated while the other case, involving a TV3 staffer, was being heard in court.
In Penang, two cases were reported last year and one in 2007. The first two cases, involving Guang Ming Daily and Utusan Malaysia reporters, were still being investigated. The 2007 case is now in court.
Two cases -- the first involving a Kosmo reporter in Negri Sembilan and the other involving Tamil Malaysia Nanban in Johor in 2007 -- were still being investigated.
Chor was replying to Charles Anthony Santiago (DAP-Klang), who had asked about the results of police investigations into cases of physical attacks against reporters and cameramen since 2007, and on the steps being taken to ensure the safety of journalists.
Chor said journalists should listen to advice from the police.
“If they are not allowed in, don’t be too eager to go in to get a scoop,” he said, adding that if journalists would listen to the police more, there would be fewer such cases.
In reply to Bung Moktar Radin (BN-Kinabatangan) on why the investigations were taking so long and whether journalists needed bodyguards, Chor said that all investigations should follow the proper procedure.
There were one or two cases that involved many people and that made it difficult to determine who was actually involved in the attack, Chor said.
He also said that Malaysia was safe enough for journalists to operate without the need for bodyguards.