KUALA LUMPUR – Legal and media rights groups have chimed in on the recent scuffle between a lawyer and photographer, with both groups saying that professionals in their respective fields should be given space to conduct their jobs.
Their calls were made regarding the incident between Utusan Malaysia photographer Zulfadhli Zaki and defence lawyer S. Suresh at the Shah Alam High Court this morning, where the lawyer received light injuries when the former hit him with a camera after Zulfadhli’s media card was snatched.
Malaysian Bar president Karen Cheah said it is important that lawyers are not obstructed from going about their duties in court complexes.
She added that based on a preliminary understanding of the incident, any form of outburst and possible assault on lawyers at courts are “improper and unacceptable”.
“Courts are where lawyers move around to do substantial work by representing clients and raising arguments before judges. As they move around court complexes, their safety and peace of mind are of utmost importance,” she said in a statement to The Vibes.
Noting that while she appreciates media personnel carrying out their jobs attempting to secure photographs or stories, the personal space and mobility of lawyers as well as those they are representing should be respected.
“Pushing and shoving does nothing but create unnecessary chaos and misunderstandings,” she said, adding that the issue of safety concerns for lawyers on court grounds will be raised with the court administration for the implementation of preventive protocols.
Meanwhile, a coalition of media practitioners and supporters of press freedom known as Gerakan Media Merdeka reiterated its call for better laws to protect journalists on the field.
“Any attempt to prevent the media from carrying out their duties, especially by involving physical action, is unacceptable,” it said, adding that the media can publish pictures and names of accused individuals in a case as long as they are not juveniles.
“In this case, the lawyers representing the accused should have informed the press earlier if there is a need to protect the identity of suspects.”
It added that media members should avoid committing provocative acts or counter-attacks unless there is a need to defend themselves.
Both parties involved have since resolved their conflict but will be going through with the police reports lodged at the Section 9 district police headquarters in Shah Alam.
Zulfadhli told The Vibes that his report was made because the lawyer had grabbed his media card from the lanyard around his neck.
While both men have apparently expressed their regrets, Zulfadhli said the incident should not have happened in the first place as he was simply carrying out his duties as a photographer.
In videos of the scuffle which have since made the rounds on social media, Suresh was seen trying to push his way through the crowd of photographers while shielding his client, Samirah Muzaffar.
Samirah and two teenagers were acquitted by the Shah Alam High Court today of a charge of murdering then-Cradle Fund chief executive officer Nazrin Hassan.
Presiding judge Datuk Ab Karim Ab Rahman ordered for the suspects to be discharged without calling for their defence against the charge under Sections 302 of the Penal Code, which carries a mandatory death sentence. – The Vibes, June 21, 2022
