PENANG/BUTTERWORTH: The Penang & Seberang Perai journalists associations issued their statements on Friday reprimanding UMNO Bukit Bendera divisional chairman Ahmad Ismail.

The Penang Press Club slammed Ahmad for neglecting the professionalism of journalists, and pushing the responsibility to the media after committing the mistakes while not admitting that he had been wrong. It said such an attitude was very immoral.

The club felt regretful over Ahmad Ismail's action of openly condemning the media.

The Penang Press Club also hoped that politicians would respect the professionalism of journalists, adding that if the politicians were certain that the media had made any false report, they could attempt to resolve the issue through legal means, not open condemnation.

The press club also urged the police to call the witnesses who were present when Ahmad Ismail made the controversial speech, and complete the investigations as soon as possible.

The Seberang Perai Press Association, meanwhile, condemned Ahmad Ismail for accusing the media of making false reports and for his refusal to apologise, calling such an attitude of evading responsibility and ascribing the blame to the reporters as utterly disgusting.

The association said in a statement that if DPM Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, who was present when Ahmad Ismail delivered the speech, had later apologised to the Chinese community, while PM Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi had also urged him to apologise, it could not understand why he refused to do so.

The association said UMNO Penang even openly supported him, attesting to their arrogance and failure to care for the feelings of other races.

The association said it was extremely disappointed with the attitude of Ahmad Ismail, who remained recalcitrant and refused to apologise even after both PM and DPM had advised him to do so, and subsequently pushed the responsibility to the media.

The statement said journalists covering the event had recorded everything Ahamd Ismail said in his speech, and had subsequently reported the truth, adding that the reporters would not intentionally misqoute him.

The Seberang Jaya Press Association made it clear that it would not tolerate the act of the UMNO leader who had said something wrong and was not courageous enough to admit his responsibility but instead ascribed the blame to the media, adding that such a detestable and backward attitude must not be allowed to exist.

If necessary, the association said it would throw its full support behind the reporters who have reported the truth on this penumpang issue. (Translated by DOMINIC LOH/Sin Chew Daily)