There are no restrictions for online media such as Malaysiakini to provide coverage of Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak's events, said Minister in the Prime Minister's Department, Azalina Othman Said.

However, Azalina said, the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) may limit media coverage of Najib's events at times due to several factors.

"These include limited space for the event, security factors and to ensure more focused news reports," she said in a written parliamentary reply yesterday.

She was responding to a question by MP Teo Nie Ching (DAP-Kulai) addressed to the prime minister, on whether online media such as Malaysiakini , The Malaysian Insider and The Malay Mail Online were barred from covering events conducted by the PMO.

Malaysiakini has been continuously denied entry to the PMO at the security checkpoint.

Officers would simply tell its reporters that Malaysiakini is not allowed into the building.

At a press conference later, Teo ( photo ) rubbished the answer from Azalina, especially on the security concerns.

"(Members of the) media are not terrorists," she said.

She also said that aspect of "focused news reports" just meant that Najib is afraid of answering questions.

Teo hoped the prime minister would be brave enough to face the media and respond to questions of national interest.