MELAKA, Nov 15 (Bernama) -- The Melaka Media Practioners Club (PENDIKA) has expressed its disappointment with Datuk Muhammad Jailani Khamis, the state Tourism, Culture and Heritage committee chairman for disparaging local journalists in the presence of foreign investors at a press conference here today.
Its chairman, Amir Mamat said Muhammad Jailani had allegedly uttered a statement about the journalists to investors from Korea for not posing follow-up questions, saying, “because they having communication problems a bit because they can't speak English fluently. They can understand but they cannot converse,” which he deemed as an insult.
"We have noted complaints from some of our members regarding the statement. A state committee chairman should not belittle media practitioners in front of foreign investors, especially in a programme that is related to government efforts.
"The mainstream media then unanimously agreed not to do a write-up about the programme and decided to leave the event,” he said in a statement here today.
Amir said he hoped that such an incident would not recur and that good relations between the media and the state government remained intact as the media also has a role in maintaining Melaka’s good name.
The incident allegedly happened at a media conference of the proposed 22-kilometer 'maglev' system to connect tourist hotspot locations and the development of Disneyland Theme Park and Disney City in Melaka.
Meanwhile, in his defence, Muhammad Jailani said the media had misunderstood his statement as an insult, which resulted in a media boycott of the programme.
“I was merely explaining to the guests who had waited for questions to be asked in English. I did not intend to insult the media.
"In my statement, I only wanted to 'cover’ the journalists present so that they (the foreign investors) do not think that the reporters present were not interested in asking questions, and I was only speaking to the person next to me,” he added.
-- BERNAMA
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