I guess last Saturday’s events surprised majority of the country. It actually started earlier, when RPK was arrested (detained?) under ISA. I guess it was not so shocking as his controversial writings damaged many politicians’ credibility and ridiculed the Malays and Islam (as proclaimed by some quarters). The seismic effect came when Tan Hoon Cheng, a 33-year old USM Mass Communication graduate with 9-years experience with Sin Chew was arrested under the same ISA for “her own protection”. This most stupid comment was made by no less than our own Home Minister Syed Hamid Albar. I’m ashamed and sad for our country that such people are voted into position and made into Ministers. I think he, of all people, deserves the ISA for bring shame to our country and ridiculing the intelligence of the rakyat. We don’t want rotten comedians to be our Ministers.

He attempted to provide some resemblance of excuse (or truth):

Home Minister Syed Hamid Albar has implied that Sin Chew Daily reporter Tan Hoon Cheng was also to be blamed for the public furore over the ‘Chinese squatter’ remark.

“The whole thing was started by her, (so) it was best that we talked to her,” Syed Hamid said in reply to a question during a press conference at the federal police headquarters in Bukit Aman today.Asked to elaborate, Syed Hamid said the ripple effects from Tan’s article had caused “the polemic and fear” thus warranting investigations by the police.

“That information is from her and it was published. (Since) it has been published, it is best that we get to the bottom of it by getting the information from her.

On why Tan was detained under the Internal Security Act and not Ahmad, Syed Hamid said that police investigations are on-going.

“I don’t think we treat politicians differently. We have taken action. That politician has been suspended three years by the party. He lose all his position. At the same time, there is a (police) report of sedition (against Ahmad),” he said.

Asked why the police had to invoke the ISA on Tan instead of just calling her in to assist with their investigations, Syed Hamid said that the decision was the prerogative of the police.

“When the police feel it is best to bring the person in under the ISA, (and) they will do so,” he said.

The minister also said that Tan was detained because of alleged threats on her physical safety.

According to Fong Chan On, former MP and current MCA Vice President:

MCA vice-president Datuk Seri Dr Fong Chan Onn lashed out at Syed Hamid’s justification, in saying that Tan’s life was under threat. “It is unacceptable and was a feeble attempt to justify the use of the ISA on Tan,” he said.

Fong, the Alor Gajah member of parliament, said Syed Hamid also contradicted himself when he said he did not know about the move to detain Tan.

“As the home minister, he should be responsible for any action taken by the police, especially when it involves an issue of national security.

“As a senior minister, Syed Hamid must be familiar with these procedures, which should be referred to the prime minister for his advice.

The Minister’s interview, which was aired in news reports on TV, was just plain pathetic. I think he should be removed before he causes more damage to our country’s image and become a laughing stock.

Excerpts of his press conference:

Q: Is Ahmad Ismail above the law?
A: He has been punished so far as the party as concerned. At the same time there is a report against Ahmad Ismail and we are investigating it. I don’t think we treat politicians differently. We have taken action. That politician has been suspended three years by the party. He lose all his position. At the same time there is a report of sedition.

Why arrest the reporter when you can call her up for questioning?

Whatever action that we take, there will be questions asked. The whole thing was started by her, it is best that we talk to her. If she is a threat, she would be brought in under Section 73 for 60 days. She would be held. When we have questioned her and we are satisfied with her answers, we just release her. I don’t think we are being unfair nor have we mistreated her.

What do you mean by ‘she started the whole thing’?
If you are going to analyse (what I say), I’d be appearing before a defence counsel. Let me say that the (news) report was made by her. Therefore just now when I introduced the subject, I said that we don’t want hearsay information. That information is from her and it was published. (Since) it was published, it is best that we get to the bottom of it by getting the information from her.
In the whole context, it was the overall incident and the subsequent follow up debates on the matter that started the polemic and created fear (among the public). I think we had acted professionally and after one day we had released her. I think that is a very good cause of action.

Why couldn’t the police just ask her to come in for questioning?
When the police feel it is best to bring the person in under the ISA, they will do so. The most important thing is not to exercise unfairness. When they find what they wanted and realise that she is not a security threat and she is not disturbing public order, they release her immediately.
That is why it is not an exercise on the part of the minister to hold the person under Section 8 which is two years (detention) straight away. The police feel that they should handle it and avoid any misunderstanding.

Do you as a minister feel that the ISA arrests were justified?

I’m a minister and politician. If I start to interfere, people will say I have a political motive. I cannot interfere with the police.

Would there be more arrests? People are saying that this is a mini-Operasi Lalang.

Really? Let me know if there are more (arrests). You shouldn’t ask me. We have done the arrests and so far there is no other arrests.

Is this part of a crackdown to stop Anwar Ibrahim from taking power?
If you look at the whole thing, there is no logic at all for it (ISA arrests) to be related to Sept 16. Sept 16 is a political move. They (PKR) have sent people to Taiwan. If they are successful, they can replace the government, then go ahead. It has nothing to do with the arrests which has to do with public order.
So which is which? Arrested for own protection or is it actually criminal intimidation? Now, why wasn’t Saiful Bahari, the alleged sodomy victim, arrested under ISA Section 73 or whatever for his own protection?

A small note: Tan is an award-winning reporter, with excellent command of English and BM who reported exactly what she heard Ahmad Ismail say. The Sin Chew Daily clarified that the total paragraph was just 108-words and no commentary were added.

For me, the arrest of Tan reveals the revenge plot. A political party were humiliated since Deputy Prime Minister Najib had to publicly apologise and their own member, Ahmad Ismail was forced to be suspended. Having lost face, its time to show who’s the boss to Gerakan and MCA. Unfortunately, Tan’s arrest made Gerakan, MCA and DAP members group together to protest. This goes on to show that the Chinese community are quiet united at the grassroots levels. The top leaders may have to stand by their principles, but the community will dump these parties at a snap of the fingers.

With the arrest, MCA and Gerakan are caught with their pants down. Ong Ka Chuan begs that Cabinet ministers are consulted before any detention orders are made. But, if follow Syed Hamid, the police need to not ask anyone under the section 73(1). So, Ong Ka Chuan must be careful in case he is next on the list.

The arrest of Tan showed unprecedented condemnation from various quarters – ordinary citizens, Bar Council, journalists groups, religious groups, political parties, civil rights groups, etc. Even UMNO’s on de-facto Law Minister condemned it, willing to take risk to be removed from his cabinet post or resign it asked to do so. In fact The Star reported of rumors that Zaid Ibrahim had tendered his resignation at 2pm today!

MCCBCHST also condemned the arrests and appealed for their released. A church even held prayers for the other detainee – Teresa Kok.

If you read Tan’s writing of her ordeal, it doesn’t sound like someone being protected. More funnily (well, what can you expect from comedian minister?) now that she’s released, who is going to guarantee her safety? If indeed her life was threatened, isn’t it logical that she be protected for more than just 18 hours? Have the individual(s) who threatened her or incited others to harm her been arrested?

The response from the public is immediate. A candle light vigil in Penang attracted 500 people in a short notice. Another one in KL was disperse within 15 minutes by the police. If a survey is taken now, I guess Prime Minister’s popularity will be at a new record-breaking low. So far, not even a single person I’ve met and talked about this have agreed with the action by the police.

Tags: Crime, ISA, discrimination, Badawi, MCA, Gerakan, UMNO,