KUALA LUMPUR, March 15 ― Sarawak’s tourism numbers will not be affected by last weekend’s arrest of an Australian news crew that allegedly barged past a security cordon to interview Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, Datuk Abang Johari Tun Openg said.
The state housing minister said the priority given to protection of VVIPs or important individuals at events is a common approach worldwide.
“Anywhere in the world the leaders’ security is paramount. This is an approach that is needed to be implemented by the security personnel as we are protecting the leaders,” he was quoted saying by local daily The Borneo Post.
Abang Johari said the arrest should not be misinterpreted as government interference with press freedom, and insisted that the two Australian journalists had failed to abide by journalism ethics.
He pointed out that security is often tightened for other world leaders like US president Barack Obama and British Prime Minister David Cameron.
For these leaders, he said, the media would not even be allowed into the hotels they stay in and would have to wait for press conferences to get their questions answered, instead of trying to flag them down during events.
“Every leader will have a dialogue session with the reporters and they do not necessarily neglect the media,” he said.
Last Saturday, Australian journalist Linton Besser and camera operator Louie Eroglu ― aged 39 and 51 ― were arrested in Kuching over an incident in which police allege the two approached Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak in an “aggressive” manner in a bid to ask him questions about a local controversy.
They were accused of crossing a security line and failing to comply with police orders to remain behind said line, which both men denied.
On Sunday, Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi denied the move was meant to prevent the duo from asking questions of the prime minister, but rather to ensure Najib’s security.
Just last night, ABC News reported that the lawyer representing Besser and Eroglu was told by the police to ensure the duo were present in court this morning as they will be charged.
ABC News had then said both men from its Four Corners news programme were expected to be charged under Section 186 of the Penal Code that pertains to the obstruction of public servants in the discharge of their duties and which carries a penalty of a maximum two-year jail term, a maximum RM10,000 fine or both.
But hours after the Australian duo were told they would face charges, Sarawak police said that they would only be deported from Malaysia, pursuant to Section 8(3)(h) of the Immigration Act.
Sarawak CID chief Senior Asst Comm Dev Kumar said this morning that the police had submitted the investigation papers on the duo to the deputy public prosecutor yesterday, with the latter giving instructions today that no charges will be filed against the Australians.
