Released But The Bar Council Must Act Against The Home Minister

Thank GOD that Tan Hoon Cheng is safe and being released.

Malaysiakini headline : Sin Chew reporter released
Sin Chew Daily senior reporter Tan Hoon Cheng was released by the police this morning and she is now safely in her house in Bukit Mertajam.
Malaysiakini has the full report here.

A sigh of relieve for everyone especially her parents and family members. Where do we stand after her release, can we just let it stop here after reading the reason for her arrest by the home ministry?

The report from The Star Online,

Speaking on the one-day arrest of Sin Chew Daily News reporter Tan Hoon Cheng, who was arrested under the ISA, he said Tan was detained under Section 73(1) of the Act in order to ensure her safety.

He added that 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.



Section 73(1) Internal Security Act 1960:
“Any police officer may without warrant arrest and detain pending enquiries any person in respect of whom he has reason to believe-

1. that there are grounds which would justify his detention under section 8; and
2. that he has acted or is about to act or is likely to act in any manner prejudicial to the security of Malaysia or any part thereof or to maintenance of essential services therein or to the economic life thereof.”

I do not see any mention of "for one's safety" in this section. The home minister is talking through his @sshole and even have no shame to mention "there were threats to her life."

She had to endure nearly 24 hours being confined in the police station. Is this the way to protect someone from being threaten. She was arrested at her house at 8:30pm by some 10 personel of the police force and taken to Bandar Perda. Upon hearing that she would be taken to the police headquarters in Penang I rush down there to lend my support. She was wisked in by the side entrance without anyone knowing and held till the morning before she is released.

So is the home minister trying to say that the threats to her life is over after spending a night under Section 73(1) Internal Security Act.

The Bar Council must take action against this incompetence home minister and sue the government for wrongful arrest.

Our vigilant and protest must not end here, we must stand united to fight of this draconian ISA which should have been buried a long time ago.

Please come to Kelana Jaya Stadium 8pm 15th September, 2008 to show solidarity for RPK, Teresa Kok and Tan Hoon Cheng.