Journalist Faints Under Hot Sun After Only Government-Owned Media Allowed to Enter Parliament

On 18 May, the Malaysian parliament gathered for the first time this year with the sitting lasting less than two hours with no debate. The royal address was the only agenda of the one-day sitting, according to Malaysia Kini.

As the sitting took place, only government-owned media were allowed to enter like RTM and Bernama while other media were banned from entering the building and left to report under the hot blazing sun.

At about 11.20am, one of the journalists who was barred from entering the building fainted while covering the event outside the parliament main gate.

For illustration purpose

MalaysiaKini reported that the 31-year-old journalist from Kwong Wah Yit Poh was identified as Tan Zhi Wei, who most probably fainted due to the hot weather in addition to not having his breakfast that morning.

Other media members and police officers attended to him and he soon regained consciousness. The ambulance arrived shortly after. Tan was then seen heading to his car with his colleagues accompanying him.

Barring the media from governmental assemblies seems to be a common practise nowadays while only government-owned media are allowed to enter.

On 11 May, when Malacca held their state assembly, only government-owned media were allowed to cover the sitting, while other media organisations were barred from entering the space provided for the media to watch the assembly

During the assembly, a heated argument ensued between Umno and Pakatan Harapan politicians about the appointment of a new Speaker, during which names like “Babi” and “Pengkhianat” were thrown at each other.

You can watch the video here.

Also read: Watch: Umno & PH Politicians Yell & Call Each Other Names During Malacca State Assembly