 Sin Chew Daily reporter Tan Hoon Cheng hugging her mother at her home in Bukit Mertajam on Saturday after she was released from ISA detention •
Emotional return for Tan
•
Tan raring to get back to work
©The
Star (Used by permission)
by Derrick Vinesh and Christina Chin
BUKIT MERTAJAM: Warm hugs from her anxious family members and friends saw Tan
Hoon Cheng almost breaking down in tears as she returned home in Taman Alma,
here at about 4.15pm Saturday.
The 33-year-old Sin Chew Daily reporter, who was detained Friday under
the Internal Security Act (ISA), was released in less than 24 hours.
She was all smiles as she spoke to her family and friends for a mere 20 minutes
before heading to stay at a friend’s house to avoid the media.
Clad in a pale orange T-shirt and jeans, Hoon Cheng remained calm and composed,
as four police officers dropped her off in a four-wheel drive at 4.15pm.
 Her brother Weng Tong, 37, said Hoon Cheng told him that she was taken to the
Perak police headquarters in Ipoh instead of the Bukit Aman Police Headquarters
in Kuala Lumpur as they had initially thought.
“The police drove her from the Penang police headquarters to Ipoh at about
8.30am and returned to the same place on the island at about 2.30pm.
“Due to slight traffic congestion on the Penang Bridge, they only reached our
home in Bukit Mertajam at about 4pm,” he said Saturday.
Weng Tong, a tour guide based in Kuala Lumpur, said his sister told them that
the policemen treated her well and that she was given proper meals to eat.
Appealing for the media’s co-operation and understanding, he said, Hoon Cheng
was not keen on giving any press statement for the time being.
“She just told us not to worry, now that she is back home safely.
“My sister is a very tough and independent girl. Although she is the youngest
and the only girl among us three siblings, she is not the pet.
“She pampers us a lot, instead,” he said, adding that she was very committed to
her work.
Weng Tong said Hoon Cheng wanted to go back to work immediately, but was advised
by her colleagues to take it easy for a few days.
Their mother Khor Ah Heok, 59, said she was at peace only when she heard from
Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, who called at about noon to inform her that Hoon
Cheng could be released by the evening.
“I could only afford a sigh of relief when I saw her at our front gate. I hope
my worst fears about Hoon Cheng’s safety are over,” she said.
Hoon Cheng’s other brother Tan Weng Khian, 35, a sales executive, grandmother
Tan Kim Tien, 95, sisters-in-law, nephews and nieces were also at their house to
welcome her back.
Her father Tan Boon Siam, 65, was away at work when she returned home.
Weng Tong said the family was touched by the support of fellow Malaysians of all
races who displayed their caring spirit during the trying 24 hours of Hoon
Cheng’s arrest.
“I am not saying this for publicity sake, but my family has always respected and
cared for the different communities, whom we have known all our lives.
“We just hope Malaysians will remain united and live peacefully as one
harmonious family,” he said. He also thanked the Home Affairs Ministry,
political parties, the media and public for their support and for helping to
expedite Hoon Cheng’s release.
Hoon Cheng, who was arrested under Section 73(1) of the ISA at her home in Bukit
Mertajam on Friday night, was allowed to see her parents for about 15 minutes
Saturday morning.
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Circular No 297/2008
Thank God that sanity has prevailed.
Tan Hoon Cheng did no wrong. Her liberty should not have been curtailed, even for one second. In God's name, I now challenge those who ordered the use of the Internal Security Act to extend by just one minute the life of their loved ones when the call comes.
If they cannot do this, then I appeal to all politicians of all shades and colours to stand as one and repeal that Act forthwith.
Teresa Kok did no wrong. Raja Petra did no wrong. All three loved this country just as we loved it, if not more. Why should they be subjected to the ISA. My friends and I do not see them as a threat to national security.
Free the duo or face the wrath of the Divine!
The problem with the ISA is that the existence of such a liberty-denying piece of legislation tempts politicians to use it, to actually misuse or abuse it.
It is time that we repeal such a Act whose very use, abuse and misuse have marred the political development of this country.
Stephen Tan Ban Cheng