Police confirmed receiving reports on journalists being assaulted

Police have confirmed receiving reports from two journalists who were allegedly assaulted when covering a gathering to seek the release of student activist Adam Adli Abd Halim in Jalan Sungai Dua last night.

Timur Laut District police chief ACP Gan Kong Meng said the reports were received from a Chinese newspaper reporter and a news portal reporter at 12.30am and 2.20pm.

Speaking to reporters during a High Profile Policing programme here today, he said no arrests had been made yet and police would investigate the gathering under Section 9 (1) of the Peaceful Gathering Act 2012 and Section 147 and Section 323 of the Penal Code.

At 8.30pm yesterday, about 30 Universiti Sains Malaysia students held a candle vigil in front of the Sungai Dua KFC in a symbolic gesture urging for the release of Adam Adli who was being remanded for five days.

A group of men wearing helmets later appeared and jeered at the demonstrators and two reporters who tried to take their pictures were roughed at.

The gathering was also attended by Penang Deputy Chief Minister I Mohd Rashid Hasnon and Malaysian Socialist party chief Choo Chon Kai, who also spoke at the gathering.