The photographer who covered the 2012 Aidilfitri open house of Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak and cabinet ministers on Aug 19 regrets that his picture has become a subject of dispute

by an opposition party senator who alleged that it had been doctored.

“Doctoring pictures is not part of my work culture. In fact, it is not the work culture of any Bernama staff. The allegation is an insult,” said Harry Salzman Abu Bakar, the Bernama photographer who took a picture of an enthusiastic crowd of mostly young people at Seri Perdana.

He concurred with Bernama editor-in-chief Yong Soo Heong that time was of the essence for media personnel and they did not have the time to do something irrational.

“I have many other duties and assignments to attend to in Putrajaya. We are professionals who record things happening around us and in this case, to convey and share the air of festivity at the function, and it was not done in the interest of any individual,” said Harry Salzman.

He confirmed that the single shot taken by him was used by many newspapers and there was no alteration or addition by him or Bernama because it was always a question of uncompromised integrity and credibility whenever it involved his work.

After the picture was printed by several newspapers, an opposition senator issued a statement to allege that the picture had been doctored by an amateur graphic artist and an open house picture should have depicted children, the aged and the disabled on wheelchairs.

Meanwhile New Straits Times photographer Ahmad Irham Mohd Noor, who was also at the same Aidilfitri function and took a picture from almost the same angle, also voiced his regret over the senator’s allegation.

He said when the prime minister arrived at the function, only Harry and him were following him around and they were able to get on to the stage with Najib to get the best angle.

“The angle was chosen for a wide coverage of the event which could only be taken from a high location.”

He said it was inappropriate for anyone to question the integrity and ethics of photographers as they were only doing an honest job of recording an actual event with “one picture that tells it all”.

Mahfooz NR, a senior manager at Nikon Professional Services Malaysia, said the two photographers had made the correct move by taking pictures from a high angle to obtain the overall scene.

“To get an overall picture such as that of a flood or any other natural disaster, the picture is best taken from a high angle like a helicopter, high building or stage to get a ‘bird’s eye view’,” said the photography expert.

Mafooz said if a picture were to be modified digitally, it could be easily detected in the detailed data file of the picture.   

‘Welcome to examine original pic’

Meanwhile, Yong said Bernama welcomed anyone to examine the original picture, which did not contain any superimposed images as alleged because the news agency had nothing to hide as it came from one single shot.

MIC vice-president SK Devamany, when contacted by Bernama , confirmed the authenticity of the picture and deemed the senator’s allegation as incorrect.

“I was at the open house that day. Even though he (the senator) is in the opposition, it is not appropriate for him to go to that extent (to make wild claims). When we face our political opponents, we should try to be constructive, not destructive,” he said.

He said it could be that the general election was approaching, so the opposition was trying to politicise anything to create a perception to garner support.

Devamany, who is Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, said the senator’s allegation was clearly an attempt to belittle the patriotic spirit of the people who had turned up in large numbers to show their support on that festive day.

 

- Bernama

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