The Malaysian Bar - Don't play blame game over cameraman's death: Najib

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Don't play blame game over cameraman's death: Najib

Monday, 05 September 2011 08:53am

©The Sun (Used by permission)
by Azril Annuar

PETALING JAYA (Sept 4, 2011): Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak yesterday urged the public not to blame anyone over the death of BernamaTV cameraman Noramfaizul Mohd Nor who was shot dead in Somalia last Friday while covering a humanitarian mission organised by Putera 1Malaysia Club.

The prime minister said no one’s safety in crisis-afflicted areas such as war zones and natural disaster regions can be guaranteed, regardless of the training and precautionary measures provided.

“This was a totally unexpected incident which happened a mere 200m away from their base. Sometimes in war zones, even training and bullet proof vests cannot prevent this from happening.

“We will try our best to prevent this from happening again, but no one can guarantee anything as there are limits to the amount of preparation for any eventuality. If you’re not prepared to take the risk, then stay home,” he said.

Noramfaizul, 39, was killed after he was shot while travelling in a four-wheel-drive vehicle with other media personnel covering the distribution of aid to victims of Somalia’s famine.

“I regard Noramfaizul as a national hero whose good deed should inspire us to continue helping the less fortunate,” said Najib, who extended to Noramfaizul’s family his personal condolences and that of his wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, who is the patron of the aid mission, as well as that of the government and people of Malaysia.

Najib told newsmen this at the Royal Malaysian Air Force airbase in Subang here, after witnessing the return of Noramfaizul’s remains which were brought back by an RMAF C-130 aircraft about 10am.

Present to receive the body were his widow, Norazrina Jaafar, 37, and their two sons, Mohd Irfan, eight, and Mohd Naufal, three, as well as Noramfaizul’s parents, Mohd Nor Mat Yassin, 66, and Naemah Abd Majid, 63,

An air of sadness hung over the airbase as the casket, draped in the Malaysian flag, was brought out of the aircraft which had also flown in the remaining 54 members of the humanitarian aid mission of the Putera 1Malaysia Club, including TV3 cameraman Aji Saregar Mazlan, who was also injured in the incident.

Over 300 people, including Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, Information Minister Datuk Seri Rais Yatim, Defence Minister Datuk Seri Zahid Hamidi, Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Shaberry Cheek and Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil were present at the airbase.

Also present were Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama) chairman Datuk Abdul Rahman Sulaiman, general manager Datuk Hasnul Hassan, editor-in-chief Datuk Yong Soo Heong and BernamaTV chief editor Abdul Rahman Ahmad.

Noramfaizul’s remains were taken to the airbase mosque for prayers before being taken to his house in Serdang. He was buried after Zohor at the Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) cemetery in Serdang.

Najib said such risks are part and parcel of journalism where even an experienced and veteran cameraman like Noramfaizul, who had covered other war-torn areas such as Gaza and Pakistan, could be struck down unexpectedly.

“Many international journalists have also been killed in many parts of the world. There is no absolute guarantee once you are in a theatre of conflict. There are many places where the lives of journalists, including those from established networks such as CNN and BBC, have been lost,” he said.

“In hostile territory, the safety of our personnel lies in the hands of the local security forces or peacekeepers there. They are the ones who control security. We cannot insist on more than what they are willing to give,” said Najib, adding that he is awaiting a full report on the incident from the Somali government.

Asked if the tragic incident will be a deterrent to Malaysia’s efforts in sending relief efforts overseas, Najib said the tragedy should not be taken as a setback to help the less fortunate.

A total of 23 journalists have lost their lives in war-torn Somalia since 2007 which has been dubbed “Africa’s deadliest country for journalists” by Reporters Without Borders

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