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 ©New
Straits Times (Used by permission)
by Sean Augustin
• Act of victimisation, claims Guan Eng
• Teresa Kok held over 'azan' issue
• 3 newspapers told to show cause
• Sin Chew reporter detained under ISA
• Raja Petra a 'threat to national security'
• Abdullah: Govt means business
• Time to stay cool until probe is completed
KUALA TERENGGANU: Former Bukit Bendera Umno division chief Datuk Ahmad Ismail
may have an unlikely advocate on the question of whether he should be dealt with
under the Internal Security Act for allegedly making racially sensitive
statements in the run-up to the Permatang Pauh by-election.
And that person is Gerakan acting president Tan Sri Dr Koh
Tsu Koon himself, the man he has been feuding with.
Koh said the party had always supported the due process of law despite
suggestions that the ISA be applied in this case.
"Out of anger and disgust, some of our leaders have called for the use of the
most stringent law.
"But I agree with Rais that we should proceed with the Sedition Act and other
laws first," he said, referring to Umno supreme council member Datuk Seri Dr
Rais Yatim's statement on the subject.
Rais had stated on Thursday that Ahmad should not be detained
under the ISA and hoped his case would go through the normal process of law.
Koh, who was speaking after the Terengganu Gerakan delegates conference
yesterday, said it was up to the police to study the content of Ahmad's speech
on Aug 23. Ahmad was alleged to have said that the Chinese in Malaysia were
squatters.
On Umno-Gerakan ties in Penang, which were severed following Ahmad's recent
press conference where his supporters tore up and stepped on Koh's photograph,
he said members of his party were still angry over the incident.
"It will take some time for us to review and resume... but like any
relationship, it takes two.
"It's akin to quarrelling with your brother and that depends what you and he
do," he said.
On a Barisan Nasional code of ethics and conduct proposed by his party, Koh said
it was to ensure a clear understanding among all component parties about
sensitive issues and how they should be handled.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi stated on Tuesday that the BN
supreme council had agreed to the proposal.
Act of victimisation, claims Guan Eng
GEORGE TOWN: Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng yesterday criticised the Home
Ministry's decision to issue show-cause letters to three newspapers.
Lim, who is also the DAP secretary-general, said the
ministry's action against Sin Chew Daily and The Sun was an act of
vengeance.
"Why victimise these two dailies when they are telling the truth?
"Sin Chew has reported the truth, otherwise why would Deputy Prime Minister
Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak apologise and Datuk Ahmad Ismail be suspended?
"This is clearly victimisation and vengeance," he said.
Ahmad, the Bukit Bendera Umno division chief, was reported to
have described the Chinese as squatters at a ceremah during the Permatang Pauh
by-election.
Lim was speaking to reporters after presenting cheques of RM10,000 each to state
police chief Datuk Wira Ayub Yaakob and to the head of staff of the Second
Infantry Division, Colonel Hashim Aman Shah.
He said the issuance of the show-cause letters was a serious matter as
newspapers are now being punished for publishing the truth.
"It is actually very dangerous because when you allow lies, you lose the moral
basis.
"It is wrong, irresponsible and unethical, and the ministry should withdraw the
letters," he said.
Lim, however, declined to comment on the show-cause letter issued to Suara
Keadilan. All three papers have been given a week to reply.
Teresa Kok held over 'azan' issue
KUALA LUMPUR: Seputeh member of parliament Teresa Kok has been detained under
the Internal Security Act last night.
The detention was confirmed by Deputy Inspector-General of
Police Tan Sri Ismail Omar.
Although it is unclear at press time where she was being detained, Kok was last
seen attending the China Guangdong-Malaysia business conference dinner at a
hotel here.
She was said to have been detained while travelling back home from the function.
Three police patrol vehicles blocked her vehicle's path and she was detained.
It is understood that the DAP stalwart was detained for allegedly telling mosque
officials in Kota Damansara, Sri Serdang and Puchong Jaya to tone down the call
to prayer.
She had denied the allegations, which first came to light in
a Bahasa Malaysia daily.
In George Town, DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng said Kok was detained at
11.18pm.
He said the party would be doing everything possible to get Kok, who is also
Kinrara assemblyman and a senior executive council member in Selangor, out of
detention.
Lim said the party would convene an emergency central committee meeting later
today to discuss the matter.
Meanwhile, DAP publicity chief Tony Pua called on all DAP members and supporters
to stay calm.
He said a party legal bureau team headed by its chief, Ngeh Koo Ham, would be
looking into all possibilities in order to get Kok released.
He said the team would most likely also include party chairman Karpal Singh and
his son, Gobind.
3 newspapers told to show cause
KUALA LUMPUR: Three newspapers -- The Sun, Sin Chew Daily and
Suara Keadilan -- have been issued show-cause letters.
Secretary of the Publications and Quranic Text Control Unit
of the Home Ministry, Che Din Yusof, said the show-cause letter to The Sun
was over alleged manipulation and highlighting of many sensitive issues.
The Chinese language Sin Chew Daily was given the show-cause letter for
reporting a racially-sensitive controversial statement involving Datuk Ahmad
Ismail, the former head of the Bukit Bendera Umno division in Penang who has
since been stripped of party posts and rights.
The Suara Keadilan organ was issued the show-cause letter in connection
with a report quoting sources as alleging that Inspector-General of Police Tan
Sri Musa Hassan had become paralysed after undergoing coronary bypass surgery.
"The ministry issued the letters yesterday (Thursday) and the three newspapers
have one week to reply," he told Bernama.
The Home Minister is empowered to suspend or revoke the publishing permit of the
newspapers if they fail to provide a satisfactory explanation.
Home Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar said yesterday show-cause letters had
been issued to several newspapers but he did not name any of the publications.
He had also said that the ministry had issued letters of reminder to all media
practitioners in the country seeking their cooperation in adhering to the
publishing guidelines set by the government.
Syed Hamid said the reminder was issued soon after the Malaysian Communications
and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) withdrew its restriction on several websites,
including the Malaysia Today blog.
Sin Chew Daily editor-in-chief Pook Ah Lek told the New Straits Times he
would most likely respond to the show-cause letter by reiterating the five-point
editorial the paper had published on Sept 9 which countered Ahmad's allegations
that the paper was "targeting him".
These points include that Ahmad's story was merely a sidebar to the main story,
the report was factual and allegations that the reporter did not fully
comprehend the speech made in Malay are also baseless.
The paper also pointed out that Ahmad himself did not deny the report, saying
that his words had been taken out of context.
Pook said that Sin Chew is standing by the story and has no plans to issue an
apology over its reporting of the "Ahmad Ismail" saga.
Sin Chew reporter detained under ISA
BUKIT MERTAJAM: Sin Chew Daily reporter Tan Hoon Cheng was arrested last
night under the Internal Security Act over her report on alleged racist remarks
by Datuk Ahmad Ismail.
The 33-year-old was picked up by police at her home here at
8.30pm and taken to the state police headquarters.
The police team was sent from Federal police headquarters in Bukit Aman, Kuala
Lumpur.
Tan will be held under section 73(1) of the ISA which allows police to detain
her for up to 60 days.
Home Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar said Tan's arrest was to allow police
to "probe deeper into the whole issue.
"Her report has caused problems and disunity among the
people.
" It is also a preventive measure so that there are no conflicts arising from
the report."
At press time, Sin Chew Daily editor-in-chief Pook Ah Lek was heading an
emergency meeting and was unavailable for comment.
It is understood that senior editors of the paper had met earlier yesterday with
MCA president Datuk Seri Ong Ka Ting to seek assistance over the issue.
Tan's report, in which she quoted Ahmad as describing the Chinese community as
squatters, landed the then Bukit Bendera Umno division chief in trouble.
Ahmad was alleged to have made the remark at a ceramah in the run-up to the
Permatang Pauh by-election.
The uproar which followed the report led to many calls for Ahmad to be
sanctioned and an apology from Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.
Many quarters, including Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, urged
Ahmad to apologise.
However, Ahmad refused to do so, stating that his statement had been taken out
of context.
He was eventually stripped of all posts and rights within Umno for three years.
Raja Petra a 'threat to national security'
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia Today editor and blogger Raja
Petra Kamaruddin was yesterday arrested under the Internal Security Act.
He was picked up by police at his home in Bukit Rahman Putra, Sungai Buloh,
under Section 73(1) of the act, which allows for his detention for up to 60
days.
His wife, Marina Lee Abdullah, said police seized a computer, some books and
video compact discs from the house before leaving at 1.30pm.
Deputy Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Ismail Omar said police detained him
on suspicion of being involved in "activities which could threaten national
security".
"This arrest was made after our investigations showed that he (Raja Petra) did
certain things which could cause unrest among the citizens of various races in
this country," he said yesterday.
Home Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar said the
authorities were forced to act against Raja Petra as he had disregarded
countless advice to stop posting "racially sensitive" material.
"He does not care what damage his writings could cause.
"We have received so many police reports against him in the last two years. Our
advice had fallen on deaf ears as he continued to create havoc through his
writings."
Syed Hamid said Raja Petra's insistence on harping on sensitive issues had
caused a great deal of unhappiness among the people.
"All that he has done could potentially destroy public order," he said, adding
that the owner of Malaysia Today was also being investigated under the
Sedition Act.
Raja Petra's arrest comes a day after the government ordered the Malaysian
Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) to lift blocks on all websites,
including Malaysia Today.
In an immediate response, opposition leaders said Raja Petra's arrest was a
crackdown and undemocratic.
Parti Keadilan Rakyat president Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail said Raja
Petra's arrest was a "prelude to an impending crackdown".
"Such an attack on democracy will only accelerate the slide of our dipping
economy and political ratings," she said.
DAP supremo Lim Kit Siang, in his blog, also called the arrest "the beginnings
of a crackdown".
In George Town, acting Gerakan president Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon urged the
government to bring Raja Petra to trial under existing laws rather than detain
him under the ISA.
He also said the same should be applied to former Bukit Bendera Umno division
chairman Datuk Ahmad Ismail over his alleged racist statement.
"This is consistent with Gerakan's stand that the ISA should be reviewed, if not
repealed."
Abdullah: Govt means business
PUTRAJAYA: The government made a thorough evaluation before invoking the
Internal Security Act against blogger Raja Petra Kamaruddin.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, speaking on
the blogger's arrest yesterday, said the government always meant business when
dealing with potential threats to the country's stability.
He said the move was made after Raja Petra had been given time to correct the
offensive postings on his Malaysia Today website.
"The government always means business. We don't joke around," Abdullah said
after a Khazanah Nasional board meeting at the Finance Ministry yesterday.
"The government has a degree of tolerance and we consider whether action should
be taken immediately or a particular issue should be further studied to consider
its repercussions and effects on society."
"It (invoking the ISA) is not done without a concrete reason
and a belief that stability and public order could be threatened."
He said Home Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar, who was responsible for
signing the detention order, had been closely monitoring Raja Petra's writings
and actions.
"In making sure that public order is not affected by his (Raja Petra's) actions,
Syed Hamid decided to allow the police to detain the blogger for 60 days pending
investigations.
"After 60 days, if there is nothing (to implicate him), he will be freed.
Otherwise, he will be further detained under the orders of the home minister."
Time to stay cool until probe is completed
FOR nearly three weeks, the "Ahmad Ismail saga" had been played to the hilt in
the media. And on Wednesday, the Bukit Bendara Umno chief received his
punishment from the party's supreme council.
Datuk Ahmad Ismail, the Penang Umno warlord, has been
stripped of his division chief post he held for 20 years, for allegedly
racially-sensitive remarks he uttered about the Chinese in the midst of frenetic
campaigning for the Permatang Pauh by election last month.
He now cannot vote nor contest in the December party elections and is barred
from attending the Umno general assembly.
But that apparently is not the end of things.
The 53-year old politician is still under investigation by the police under the
Sedition Act.
Will the Internal Security Act be used on him?
There have been calls for the government to invoke the ISA and Prime Minister
Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has also not ruled out the possibility of
invoking the Act, which allows detention without trial, against those who stoke
racial tension.
But there are those who are against this idea.
Umno supreme council member Datuk Dr Rais Yatim, for one, is of the opinion that
the normal process of the law, rather than the ISA, should be used in such
circumstances.
The government, however, is serious in tackling the very real and dangerous
issue of racism. Race relations in the country is fragile.
And the prime minister, who attributed the souring race relations to issues and
statements which broached upon racial sensitivities wants it checked.
"We cannot allow a fiery situation to prevail as it could jeopardise the peace
and security of our country," Abdullah had commented after chairing the cabinet
meeting on Wednesday.
The Home Ministry is now demanding Chinese daily Sin Chew, which first reported
Ahmad's statement and English daily The Sun to show cause within a week,
why action should not be taken against them for publishing reports sensitive in
nature.
Sin Chew's "offence" is related to its recent reports on racial slur controversy
involving Ahmad while The Sun for allegedly "manipulating and playing up
numerous sensitive issues".
All these aside, the question now is where the Gerakan-Penang Umno relation is
heading following their "tiff".
Now that Ahmad has been punished and possibly facing a more severe punishment,
will the two parties kiss and forget?
Gerakan acting president Tan Sri Koh Tsu Koon may have accepted Umno's
punishment but whether his party's angry members share his view is another thing
altogether.
What more, Ahmad is resolute about never apologising over his inflammatory and
provocative remarks about the Chinese being immigrants.
His defiance in sticking to his earlier stance of not apologising is probably
encouraged by the fact that Umno grassroots see him as a champion of the Malay
cause.
And the consensus along the political grapevine is that "many are in sympathy
with Ahmad" although there are some who have gone so far as suggesting that he
be stripped of his Datukship title conferred to him on two occasions by the Yang
di-Pertua Negeri of Penang in 1996 and 2002.
The allegation against Ahmad is very serious but it would be good, under current
circumstances, for everyone to stay cool until investigations into whether his
remarks are seditious are completed.
It is also better if energy is focused on the "new" and real immigrants in the
country -- the Indonesians and Filipinos, whose numbers are in the millions.
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