Another doctored Bernama photo of Najib crowd

Sept 19 update: Bernama takes down suspicious photo

Another Bernama photo has been called into question for being doctored (Photoshopped) to pad up a crowd at a function for Umno president Najib Tun Razak.

Two weeks ago, opposition politicians accused Bernama of having doctored a photograph of a Hari Raya crowd at the prime minister’s open house in Putrajaya: Bernama’s editor and photo desk denied it.

Then yesterday another Bernama photo started making the rounds on Facebook, with a suspicious portion on the upper left corner highlighted. The photo was of Najib Tun Razak meeting well-wishers at a constituency function in Pekan, and had been used by the New Straits Times with its report on Page 2.

A blow-up of the suspicious portion

This blow-up of the official Bernama photo shows that several people in the crowd appear twice in the photo: a section of the crowd had clearly been duplicated and stripped in. The blow-up above is from the official Bernama photo at its online photo gallery (below). You might be able to make out a Bernama watermark overprinted near Najib’s face. (The watermark only appears on the online version to deter piracy, and would not appear on the photo supplied to the press.)

» See official Bernama image online

2am UPDATE: That photo’s no longer in the Pekan album at Bernama’s gallery | Tip: Antares

For comparison:
The photo which was circulated on Facebook yesterday

The photo used by the NST on Page 2:

The Star chose a different Bernama photograph:

Just a week ago, the prime minister had spoken of his support for open, fearless journalism — but this photograph is probably not what he had in mind. There is still a lingering suspicion that such photos were the result of more than just an over-zealous aide or flunky too eager to please.