Journalists from The Star covering the Bersih 5.0 convoy were among those who were confronted and harassed by a group of anti-Bersih supporters outside a hypermarket here on Saturday.
The anti-Bersih group, numbering about 30 on motorcycles, had crowded round the Bersih supporters who were giving out flyers at about 6pm.
Some of them started revving their vehicles to provoke members from the election watchdog.
About five from the anti-Bersih group, some wearing red attire, then approached the two journalists and a videographer from The Star and tried to stop them from recording and reporting the incident.
One of the journalists was harshly told to delete a video recording of the standoff that took place between supporters of both groups.
When she refused, they grabbed her by the collar of her t-shirt, pushed her, and shouted “delete, delete” at her.
They were also heard shouting: “You dari mana? Malaysiakini!” (Where are you from? Malaysiakini!).
She replied she was a reporter with The Star.
The Star’s other reporter was also subjected to the same harassment when he tried to defend his colleague from further harassment, as more shouts of “Malaysiakini” were heard.
The reporter was pulled aside by a member of the group and asked if he was a reporter from Malaysiakini. He too told them that he was from The Star.
Meanwhile, The Star’s videographer, surrounded by the group, was also forced to delete the visuals he had taken on his smartphone. The group also snatched the phone away from him and took a photo of his media tag.
Several policemen who arrived at the scene managed to control the situation. Several people from the anti-Bersih group were detained and taken to the Kuala Selangor police headquarters.
The Star’s journalists later lodged a report at the Kuala Selangor police headquarters along with several members from Bersih 5.0.
Source: The Star
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