Rasanya Ini N3 Terakhir Saya Tentang 'Bersih'

2 Cerita Dari 2 Wartawan Dari Akhbar Yang Sama
Cerita 1

Detained because he 'answered back'

MONDAY, APRIL 30, 2012 - 16:35

by Aizat Sharif

PETALING JAYA: I was in Jalan Tun Perak, Kuala Lumpur, when my news editor called and asked me to look for photographer Muhammad Arif Kartono.

I was told he was allegedly beaten up by the police and was in front of Kamdar Store in Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman.

I had to get him to the nearest medical centre.

As Jalan Tun Perak was crowded with protesters, I had to take a longer 5km route and I reached the spot after 20 minutes. By then, the situation had worsened with protesters throwing bottles at the police and the police countering with tear gas.

Muhammad Arif was not there and could not be found.

I had earlier tried calling him but did not get through. I then headed for Dataran Merdeka, hoping to find him there. When I reached the square, the situation was calmer after the police had chased away the protesters but Muhammad Arif was nowhere to be seen.

Fellow journalists from other organisations told me he was taken away by a Civil Defence Department ambulance for medical attention.

Though relieved by the news, I still had to find him and report back to my superiors.

I was allowed by the police to remain in nearby Jalan Raja for a while and I tried calling both my superiors and Muhammad Arif but without success.

The situation suddenly became tense when some protesters mocked the police personnel, who then chased the perpetrators. I moved away and stopped by a fountain between Jalan Raja Laut and Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman, facing Jalan Tun Perak.

I was trying to call the office when a police officer yelled at me to leave. Showing my media tag, I told him I was a journalist and needed to call my office. The officer instead asked his colleagues to detain me.

About five of them verbally abused me, saying I was disobedient, before one of them grabbed me and led me back to Dataran Merdeka.

The officer did not believe I was a journalist despite me showing him my tag and giving him my call card to verify with my office. Instead, he told me I could either ride the police truck to the police station or leave the place.

I explained I was looking for my missing colleague and could not leave. After about 10 minutes, the officer let me off with a warning to stay away from the square or risk being arrested. He then escorted me out of the place.

No one is above the law and I accept this incident as a misunderstanding. I respect a police officer's duty in maintaining public order but their actions towards media practitioners like me is disappointing as I am also just doing my job.

Cerita 2

'I was kicked and stomped by police officers'

MONDAY, APRIL 30, 2012 - 16:29

by Muhammad Arif Kartono

PETALING JAYA: I was instructed to cover the Bersih 3.0 rally on Saturday by my superiors and had to take pictures of it.


The incident occurred in Lorong Tuanku Abdul Rahman, parallel to Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman, as I was hurrying to get to the main road from the back alley to cover a showdown between the protesters and police there.


While running towards the scene, I was stopped by a police officer, who ordered me to turn back. I obeyed and started moving away, but at the same time, there was an incident where police were detaining one of the protesters.


As a photographer, I ran towards the scene to take pictures but before I could even do so, another police officer ran up to me and blocked my camera's view, shoving it away.


I showed my media accreditation tag and pointed out I was a photographer with The Malay Mail, but the police officer refused to budge and pushed my camera away from taking photographs of the protestor being nabbed despite me introducing myself as a newspaper photographer and showing my tag several times.


While talking to the officer, I suddenly felt a sharp pain on my head. I am not sure if I was hit by a baton or a fist. I fell to the ground together with my camera, which was in my hands.


While on the ground, I saw seven to eight police personnel coming towards me. They kicked me in my face and on my legs, and stomped on my back.


I shouted at them: "Saya hanya menjalankan tugas. Kenapa saya dibuat macam ini? (I am just doing my job. Why I am being treated like this?)".


The assault, however, continued. My camera was also kicked until its lens cracked.


The incident lasted less than five minutes. After that, I slowly got up to my feet and took my damaged camera before a protester dragged me out of the place.


I was then given medical attention by the Civil Defence Department medical personnel before lodging a report at the Jalan Bandar police station and seeking further medical attention at Kuala Lumpur Hospital.


I noticed those involved in the assault were young. I am very sad and disappointed by this incident. I was just trying to do my job and I wasn't disturbing anyone.


I had introduced myself as a media personnel. I am obliged to follow instructions given by my superiors.


I had obeyed police instructions, but why can’t they understand my job?


If I can respect their job, why can’t they respect mine?