Reporters trying to negotiate with police personnel at the Palace of Justice in Putrajaya after being denied entry into the courthouse to cover Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's sodomy appeal. – The Malaysian Insider pic, October 28, 2014.There were angry exchanges between reporters and police personnel at the Palace of Justice in Putrajaya today after only 18 members of the media were allowed into the courthouse to cover Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's sodomy appeal.
The reporters had gathered as early as 5.30am near the barricades surrounding the court complex but only those who had registered their names with the police last week were allowed in.
Disgruntled members of the press left outside tried negotiating with the police outside but to no avail.
It is learnt that among the international press present, only a reporter from AFP was allowed in.
The Malaysian Insider assistant news editor V. Anbalagan, who was also left outside, said this was the first time police were in control of the courthouse.
"It is usually for the court to issue the passes to journalist," the veteran court reporter said.
"Police are to take care of security. Police cannot assert their powers and determine who should go in and who cannot."
He said registration of journalists covering cases in court was usually done through the courts and not the police.
Anbalagan added that in 28 years as a reporter, this was the first time he had been denied entry into a courthouse. – October 28, 2014.
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