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 ©The Star
(Used by permission)
by Farik Zolkepli
• Review ISA, urges MCA
• Sin Chew reporter sent to Bukit Aman
JOHOR BARU: Sin Chew Daily News reporter Tan Hoon Cheng, who was arrested under
the Internal Security Act 1960, maybe released as soon as Saturday, said Home
Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar.
He said Tan was detained under Section 73(1) of the Act in order to ensure her
safety as police intelligence indicated that there were threats to her life
after she reported on Bukit Bendera division Umno chairman Datuk Ahmad Ismail’s
allegedly racist remarks.
“We have no intention of holding a reporter as after all she was just taking
notes of the comments made by a certain party that led to a public debate.
“She maybe released as soon as today after police have obtained all information
needed,” he said, adding that the reporter’s detention was part of the police
preventive action.
Asked on the detention of Selangor senior executive councillor Teresa Kok, Syed
Hamid said she was arrested due to her comments on mosques and the Azan
recently.
”Her comments have created public disorder and problems,” he said.
Asked whether Kok would be released soon, he said it was up to the police, as
they have to access the situation before taking any further action.
He added no more arrests under ISA are expected but it would depend on the
situation of public order.
”We are not making arrests just for the sake of arrests. ”We will not make any
more arrests under ISA as long as there is no more disturbance to peace and
public order,” he said.
He also appealed to all newspapers to cooperate with the Government and not
incite negative feelings or sentiment.
Review ISA, urges MCA
by Derrick Vinesh
BUTTERWORTH: MCA is pressing for a review of the Internal Security Act (ISA) to
check abuses and confusion about its implementation.
Its Wanita chief Datuk Dr Ng Yen Yen said MCA had all the while asked the
Government to review the law, which many had deemed as draconian.
“ISA must be used only for national security with the confidence of all
Malaysians.
“But, if at all the ISA is seen to create more non-confidence and confusion
among Malaysians, then the Government must review it,” she said Saturday after
attending a Seberang Prai MCA delegates conference at Fook Yuen restaurant in
Bukit Tengah, here.
Dr Ng said following the arrest of Sin Chew Daily News reporter Tan Hoon Cheng
on Friday, it was very obvious that the ISA could be abused under certain
circumstances.
“We (the MCA) will definitely, after this (episode), be even more vocal and more
determined to ask for a review of the ISA,” she said.
She added that the MCA had deployed a team of lawyers to help Tan, adding that
Penang Wanita MCA chief Tan Cheng Liang would provide counselling to her family.
In the meantime, Dr Ng urged Malaysians to stay clam and not react emotionally
which might cause further confusion among the people.
“The MCA will protest loudly on this matter, but we will also play our role to
ensure peace in country,” she said.
State MCA deputy chief Lau Chiek Tuan condemned Tan’s detention under the ISA,
noting that MCA, together with the Chinese community, is upset with the move.
“She is a professional reporter who was merely carrying out her duties,” he
said.
Earlier, Lau joined about 100 MCA members in staging a peaceful demonstration
outside the restaurant calling for Tan’s release and greater press freedom.
Sin Chew reporter sent to Bukit Aman
KUALA LUMPUR: Sin Chew Daily News reporter Tan Hoon Cheng who was picked
up by police at her house in Bukit Mertajam under the Internal Security Act
(ISA) Friday night, has been sent to Bukit Aman Police Headquarters.
Penang Chief Police Officer Datuk Ayub Yaakob told Bernama: “She was brought to
Bukit Aman after being allowed to meet her parents at Penang Contingent Police
Headquarters at 8.30am.”
Tan, 33, was seen getting into a black Kia Sorenta vehicle which was escorted by
a Proton Waja car after meeting her parents, Tan Booi Siam and Khor Ah Heok, at
the state police headquarters in Jalan Penang.
Her father in his 70s and mother, 60s, who came to the police headquarters with
Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng and counsel Chia Loong Thye before 8am,
brought clothes and food for Tan.
Khor said she and her husband were happy because they were allowed to meet their
daughter and spent 15 minutes with her.
”She is fine. The police also treated her well last night at the police
headquarters. She told us not to worry,” Khor told reporters.
Seen outside the state police headquarters were the journalist’s brother Tan
Weng Khian, 35, state PKR chairman Datuk Zahrain Mohamed Hashim and state
councillor Abdul Malik Abul Kassim.
Waiting for Tan’s arrival at Bukit Aman were Sin Chew Media Corporation
executive director Rita Sim and Sin Chew Daily chief executive officer
Koo Cheng, group editor-in-chief N.C. Siew dan chief editor Pook Ah Lek.
”We hope to be able to meet Tan to make sure she is okay. We also want to appeal
to the authorities so that Tan is released or not detained under ISA.
”We do not want to make any speculation. We only hope that our journalist is
given the opportunity to defend herself,” Rita told reporters. - Bernama
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Circular No 297/2008
Sin Chew senior reporter Tan Hoon Cheng was just doing her job.
This 32-year-old girl is not even in politics. She was merely doing her job. She just reported on what was said. That her reportage was accurate was borne out by the apology of none other than Deputy Prime Minister Najib.
And sixteen days later, she was arrested under the infernal Internal Security Act. I hear tell that she was crying and crying when she was handcuffed.
Just what is going on? Isn't there the rule of law in Malaysia? Was the use of the ISA a Cabinet decision, a prime ministerial decision or was it a unilateral decision on the part of the Minister in charge?
As a close friend told me over the phone, "My daughter is good in English. I have always encouraged her dream to do mass communications at the university. Now, I am telling her to do some other course.
"It makes no sense for a girl, a non-politician to be arrested for just doing a job. Journalism is far too dangerous a job for my daughter.
"As a parent, I do not want to live through the nightmare to raise a daughter, support her through university and see her arrested for merely doing her job."
Understandably, this friend wishes to remain anonymous.
I hope when this girl is released today, we do not hear stories of custodial horror.
Stephen Tan Ban Cheng