27th February 2012: Five journalists organizations in Penang severely condemned the PERKASA and UMNO supporters beating 2 journalists on duty, duirng anti-Lynas Himpunan Hijau 2.0 rally at Esplanade, Penang on Sunday.

The Penang Press Club, Penang Chinese Media Journalist and Photographers Association, Journalist Union Of North Malaya, Penang Press Employee's Cooperative Society Ltd. and Seberang Perai Press Association today jointly issued a statement in solidarity with the 2 reporters Adam Chew and Lee Hong Chun from Kwong Wah Yit Poh Press Bhd.

Both of them were injured from the assault by a group of reckless rioters on Sunday evening during the assembly.

"We strongly condemn the perpetrators of violence brutal force against unarmed journalists."

As Seremban Umno Youth members were making troubles at the scene and PERKASA Penang Northeast District Chairman Mohd Rizuad Mohd Azudin also led his supporters to interfere the peaceful assembly. Five journalists organizations strongly urge the PERKASA and UMNO to clear out their involvement in the attack of reporters.

The reporters who were assaulted had lodged police reports, and submitted to the clear picture of the assailants for police investigations. Five journalists organizations looking forward to impartial treatment by the police.

The five journalists organizations regretted that the police on duty did not ask for more police support which indirectly lead to the attitude of the attackers even more arrogant .

We hope that the CPO of Penang would look into the matter seirously and investigate. If confirmed any police was neglected of duty, immediate disciplinary action should be taken against them.

We also reiterated that our country is a country ruled by law and should never allowed anyone to manipulate the law in their own hands.

We also urge the Prime Minister to order the police to make a fair investigation on this case.