KUALA LUMPUR: A standard operating procedure (SOP) should be created to serve as a guideline for all parties, including media practitioners, before embarking on or taking part in any humanitarian mission abroad, said Information, Communications and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim.

Dr Rais said the time had come for the SOP to be put in place to prevent any untoward incident during such mission.

His call came following the shooting death of BernamaTV cameraman, Noramfaizul Mohd Nor, 39, in Mogadishu on Friday while covering a humanitarian mission in famine-stricken Somalia.

“Among other things, the situation where the mission is to be held should be assessed first, whether it is a disaster zone or a conflict zone.

“There should also be a reconnaissance done in these areas to determine the level of security,” he said in an interview programme, Kopi Panas, hosted by Zulkifli Bujang on TV1, here Monday.

The programme also featured Putera 1Malaysia Club president, Datuk Abdul Azeez Abdul Rahim, who led the mission to Somalia.

– Bernama