IGP: SOP for handling media at rallies to be formulated
KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 7 — A Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) on how the police should handle media practitioners covering public rallies will be formulated soon.
Inspector-General of Police, Tan Sri Ismail Omar (picture), said the SOP to be announced in one month will consider the views of media practitioners who covered the Bersih 3.0 rally on April 28.
“The police and the media must sit together to discuss the SOP. We want you to come and give us some suggestions as you were there and saw what actually happened,” he told reporters after a Ramadan function organised by Wanita Umno here, today.
Presenting the report on July 16, independent panel chairman Tun Hanif Omar said police did not have an SOP and this resulted in journalists and photographers sustaining injuries.
Hanif, who is former inspector-general of police, said the absence of a directive from superiors to subordinates on how to deal with the media led them to make their own decisions.
Ismail had urged media practitioners, who were injured during the rally, to give their views and ideas to the formulation of the SOP for the satisfaction of all quarters.
Earlier in his speech, the IGP paid tribute to Wanita Umno for donating Aidilfitri goodies to police personnel who have to be on duty that day.
At the function, some 8,000 packages were distributed to members of the police, armed forces, Fire and Rescue Department and Civil Defence Department. — Bernama
