The Vibes’ journalists lodge second report over Pudu UTC assault

KUALA LUMPUR – The Vibes’ journalists who were assaulted at the Pudu Urban Transformation Centre (UTC) recently have lodged a second police report, calling for the authorities to reinvestigate the case. 

This follows police’s decision to cease investigations after a deputy public prosecutor cited “inconclusive evidence” to pursue the case. 

The reporters – Qistina Nadia Dzulqarnain and Lancelot Theseira – had submitted their reports and recorded their statements at the Dang Wangi district police headquarters earlier this afternoon.

The two were accompanied by PETRA News editor-in-chief Terence Fernandez.

Besides airing their frustrations over the lack of action, the reports also highlighted that Theseira was not called in to record his witness statement prior to the closure of the case. 

The latest report also noted that the video recording of the incident showed how the journalists were verbally harassed.

Moreover, Qistina’s report noted that the assault took place when a security guard from Sri Lanang Protective Services Sdn Bhd - who was on duty at the location - grabbed her hand and snatched her phone.

She said the security guard’s actions had outraged her modesty as a female reporter.

The Vibes has also written to the deputy public prosecutor for an explanation on the decision to drop the case.

The incident took place on May 14 when the duo visited Pudu UTC to look into public complaints of long queues at Immigration counters for the renewal of passports. 

Footage of the incident, which went viral, saw the security guard aggressively shouting at the journalists, while preventing them from talking to members of the public, prior to the assault on Qistina.

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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

Subsequently, police reports were lodged by both the security guard’s firm and the journalists on the same day, although The Vibes was later told that police would not pursue the case further for “lack of criminal elements”. 

However, the following day, Kuala Lumpur Criminal Investigations Department chief Habibi Manjiji said the case had been reclassified under Section 160 of the Penal Code for committing an affray or commotion. 

Despite this, police later ceased pursuing the case after the prosecutor made the decision on the matter.

The incident triggered reactions from media rights groups and politicians decrying the abuse against the journalists, with calls for laws to protect reporters in the field. 

The Malaysian Security Industry Association also provided their insight on the situation, with its president Datuk Seri Ramli Yusuff commenting that the security personnel in question appeared to lack any kind of formal training required for security and defence forces. – The Vibes, June 8, 2022