Journalists from Utusan Malaysia and New Straits Times (NST) were barred from covering enforcement operations and press conferences organised by the Timur Laut Health Office and Penang Municipal Council in Batu Feringghi today.

This morning’s enforcement operation which began at 11am, involved officers from the health office and another eight from the council.

At a press conference after the operation, the council’s public health committee chairperson, Ong Ah Teong, apologised that the conference would not begin, if journalists from the two newspapers were present.

NST journalist Predeep Nambiar, met by Bernama later, said he was given the cold shoulder when he tried to shake Ong’s hand.

He said Ong informed him that the state government had sent out a circular barring NST and Utusan journalists from covering the council’s programmes.

- Bernama