A local municipal councillor has denied a Bernama report stating that the Penang government had issued a circular barring two Umno-linked newspapers from covering the council's programmes.

MPPP councillor Ong Ah Teong said there had never been such a circular, asking if the news agency had "created a new policy" for the state government.

NONEOng (right)  added that he did not invite the journalists from the New Straits Times and Utusan Malaysia in the first place as he had been "misquoted" by the newspaper at earlier events.

"The misquotes became issues and I do not want to be in that kind of situation again. It is better that my press conferences are not reported in those newspapers if they wished to mislead the public," he told Malaysiakini.

Ong, who is Public Health Committee chairperson, said that before commencing his press conference, he had apologised, saying the event would not begin in the presence of the two journalists were present.

He added that this led to the journalists asking if they should leave the venue.

"After they had left, I was asked if this was based on an official policy, to which I replied that it was only my personal decision to do so," he said.

No cold shoulder either

Ong was responding to the Bernama report which stated that the reporters were banned from covering enforcement operations and press conferences organised by the Timur Laut Health Office and Penang Municipal Council in Batu Feringghi yesterday.

He was also accused of giving the NST reporter the "cold shoulder" when the latter tried to shake hands with him.

Meanwhile, Ong denied that the two reporters were barred from covering the council's event as the duo had followed the team to the location.

"During the operation, the journalists had even talked to the federal government health department officials," he said.

"It was only during my press conference that I told them that I preferred to start my event in the presence of only those who were invited," he added.

Ong said it was "malicious" of the newspaper to mislead the public regarding the state government's policy on the media.

He added that it was "unethical to put words into my mouth" when he had never said that barring journalists from our event is based on a state government circular.

"I urge Bernama to withdraw the statement as it goes against the principles of press freedom.

"Those who demand fairness and equality from us, must also be able to behave in a fair and responsible manner," he added.

On giving the reporter a cold treatment, Ong denied being rude, saying he was only trying to explain his actions to him before shaking hands with him.

Bernama had quoted the reporter as saying that Ong informed him that the state government had sent out a circular barring NST and Utusan journalists from covering the council's programmes.