[UPDATED] Guard lodges police report over incident where colleague verbally abused journalists

KUALA LUMPUR – One of the security guards who was on duty during the incident that saw two journalists harassed by their personnel at the Pudu Urban Transformation Centre (UTC) here has lodged a police report. 

Dang Wangi police chief Noor Dellhan Yahaya told The Vibes that they received a “covering report” by a member of the security personnel who was at the scene, immediately following this morning’s incident.

A case report is usually lodged to ensure a case is documented.

In a separate WhatsApp message to the press, Noor Dellhan confirmed receiving a report this afternoon when asked for updates pertaining to the UTC Pudu incident. 

“We received a report today at 12.09pm, lodged by an on-duty security guard,” he said in a brief message. 

The Vibes’ journalists – Qistina Nadia Dzulqarnain and Lancelot Theseira – later lodged a separate police report at the Dang Wangi district police headquarters at 5pm.

They were accompanied by PETRA News editor-in-chief Terence Fernandez, and they left the station about two hours later.

This morning, while attempting to garner public feedback on the long queues at immigration offices, two The Vibes reporters were harassed and threatened by security guards working at the Pudu UTC.

The reporters, who were subjected to a barrage of verbal intimidation, were told they could not take pictures or speak to the public without formal approval from management authorities, among other instructions. 

Later, the guards forcefully snatched a phone away from one of the journalists after realising they were being recorded, while shouting aggressively at the reporters to leave, despite the journalists displaying their government-issued media passes. 

“You need permission to be here! This is UTC, do you understand?!” one of the guards shouted, while threatening to get police involved if the reporters did not leave the premises. 

The Vibes has reached out to the security company supposedly employing the guards in today’s incident, but calls went unanswered. The company logo bears a resemblance to the one worn by the security personnel at Pudu UTC.

On its website, the company claims to emphasise the value of “active customer service”, while its mission is to “provide quality service to all its clients and offering to fulfil all expectations”.

Immigration Director-General Datuk Seri Khairul Dzaimee Daud told The Vibes that his department has begun an immediate investigation into the incident, and vowed to improve its services to the public, amid complaints of long queues. 

The Finance Ministry, which is in charge of establishing and overseeing all UTCs in the country, is also looking into the matter, an officer said. – The Vibes, May 14, 2022

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Two reporters from The Vibes were subjected to a barrage of verbal intimidation and threats at the @imigresenmy office in UTC Pudu today.

The guard is heard yelling "This is UTC! Do you understand?! Get out!" despite the reporters identifying themselves as media. pic.twitter.com/IIGTFJBxYG

— TheVibes.com (@thevibesnews) May 14, 2022