KUANTAN: The National Union of Journalists (NuJ) expressed disappointment over the treatment of its members during the Pahang Umno Convention here on Saturday.

This was after members of the media fraternity covering the event at Dewan Jubli Perak Sultan Ahmad Shah were told to leave, as it was purportedly a closed-door meeting.

The incident occurred after Pahang Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Adnan Yaakob questioned the presence of the journalists. This was followed by shouts of "Leave" from party delegates at the convention.

Journalists from Bahasa Malaysia dailies Berita Harian, Harian Metro, Sinar Harian, and Utusan Malaysia; English dailies The New Straits Times and The Star; national news agency Bernama; Chinese newspapers such as Sin Chew Jit Poh; and broadcasters Radio Televisyen Malaysia and TV3 were then forced to leave.

"The NuJ expresses its gravest disappointment (over) the incident involving the Pahang Menteri Besar and Pahang Umno, which did not show any maturity in respecting the reporters' duty (to cover) the Umno Convention,” said NuJ president Mohd Taufek Razak in a statement today.

He said the NuJ regards the action of expelling reporters from the convention as an unprofessional act and demands an apology over the incident.

Taufek added that the media body is seeking to bring about a harmonious relationship between the news media and politicians, where all sides respect each other for a win-win outcome.

In response, Kuala Sentul assemblyman Datuk Shahaniza Shamsuddin said the convention was in fact a closed-door meeting.

She said Adnan had noticed the journalists in the hall and had indicated to them that he wished for them to explain their presence.

However, he received no response from the journalists who were present, leading to delegates' demanding them to leave.

Shahaniza said despite the delegates’ demands for journalists to leave, Adnan calmed the situation down and told the journalists to remain at the meeting.

She said the whole incident was recorded by closed-circuit television camera (CCTV).