USM academic warns attacks on journalists undermine democracy after harassment incident in Petaling Jaya
PETALING JAYA: Senior faculty member at Universiti Sains Malaysia’s (USM) School of Communication, Dr Chai Ming Hock (pic), has emphasised that any form of harassment against journalists is a direct attack on democracy.
His remarks followed a recent incident involving a female journalist who was allegedly intimidated while carrying out her duties.
“An attack on journalists is an attack on democracy,” he said when contacted.
Speaking to theSun, Dr Chai stressed that media practitioners must be guaranteed both space and security to perform their responsibilities without fear or interference.
He underscored that press freedom is a cornerstone of democratic societies, noting that journalists have the right to ask questions, just as respondents have the right to answer them.
He further explained that assaults on journalists—whether physical, verbal, or psychological—are unacceptable and erode democratic values. “Such actions are intolerable, especially at a time when transparency and accountability are crucial,” he said.
Calling for respect towards the role of the media, Dr Chai urged all parties to ensure a safe and supportive environment that enables journalists to work ethically and professionally in the public interest.
The incident in question reportedly occurred last Monday, when a senior executive from a government-linked company (GLC) allegedly pulled the press card of a female journalist after she posed a question to a minister during a press conference. The act took place after the minister had left the venue.
Both Gerakan Media Merdeka (Geramm) and the National Union of Journalists Malaysia (NUJM) condemned the incident, describing it as a serious breach of media freedom.
