Sin Chew Journalist Released

Sin Chew Daily journalist, Tan Hoon Cheng, who was arrested under the Internal Security Act (ISA) was released from the Penang police headquarters at about 2.30pm Saturday.

Home Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar confirmed the 33-year-old woman's release at a press conference at Bukit Aman.

It is learnt that she was taken to the Federal police headquarters (Bukit Aman) following her arrest at 8.30pm in Penang Friday but was sent back to Penang earlier Saturday.

Syed Hamid said Tan's detention under the ISA was part of the police's swift action to ensure her safety after she received threatening calls.

He said police intelligence found the journalist's life to be under threat after she reported about an Umno division leader's allegedly racist remarks. "She was the first one to publish a report on the alleged racist remarks by Bukit Bendera Umno chief Ahmad Ismail, so we have to get to the bottom of the issue.

"We don't want anything happen to the journalist as her life was under threat," he told a packed press conference today.

Syed Hamid also said Malaysia-Today's editor Raja Petra Kamaruddin was arrested after the police found that the 58-year-old editor's articles contained inflammatory subjects.
He said Raja Petra was advised and warned many times to stop publishing such articles, but was ignored.

"Teresa Kok's arrest took place because of her very sensitive comments about the azan (call of prayer).

We must not interfere in any religion's rituals or religious practices," he said.

The police would continue their probe against Raja Petra and Teresa Kok and if there was no reason to hold any of them, the police would release the particular person within the 60 day detention period allowed (under the ISA), he added.

He said the police would not compromise with any party who try to jeopardise public order and stressed that unity is was paramount among Malaysians.

Meanwhile when asked whether Ahmad Ismail would be arrested under the ISA for his alleged racist remarks when campaigning during the Permatang Pauh by-election last month Syed Hamid said:"Ahmad Ismail as a Umno party member was suspended for three years for his statement. He has been punished as party member.

"As to police reports lodged over his remarks, an investigation is underway," he added.
He also rubbished a question from the media, that a state of emergency would be declared following the arrests.

"Malaysia is a peaceful country and the police have taken measures to ensure everything is in order.

So I don't see an emergency situation here. We are Malaysians, that is important," he said.
He also added that the arrests was not linked to Parti Keadilan Rakyat advisor Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's plan to topple the government on Sept 16.

"Sept 16 is a political move and its nothing to do with the current arrests. There is no logic to it," he said.

Wartawan Sin Chew Daily, Tan Hoon Cheng, yang ditahan di bawah Akta Keselamatan Dalam Negeri (ISA) semalam, dibebaskan pada pukul 2.30 hari ini setelah polis berpuas hati dengan siasatan yang dijalankan terhadapnya.

Wartawan berusia 33 tahun itu dibebaskan di Ibu Pejabat Polis Kontinjen Pulau Pinang.
Hoon Cheng ditahan di rumahnya di Taman Permai, Bukit Mertajam, Pulau Pinang pada pukul 8.30 malam tadi.

Menteri Dalam Negeri, Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar ketika mengesahkan pembebasan itu berkata, penahanan wartawan wanita akhbar berbahasa Cina itu adalah sebahagian daripada tindakan segera polis bagi menjamin keselamatannya selepas beliau menerima panggilan ugutan.
Beliau berkata risikan polis mendapati nyawa wartawan itu terancam selepas Hoon Cheng membuat laporan berita yang memetik kenyataan kontroversi bekas Ketua UMNO Bahagian Bukit Bendera Datuk Ahmad Ismail yang berbaur perkauman pada satu kempen sempena pilihan raya kecil Permatang Pauh bulan lalu.

“Beliau adalah orang pertama yang menyiarkan laporan berhubung kenyataan (bekas) ketua UMNO Bahagian Bukit Bendera (Datuk) Ahmad Ismail yang didakwa berbaur perkauman, maka kami perlu menangani isu ini dengan sebaik-baiknya.

“Kami tidak mahu apa-apa berlaku terhadap wartawan ini apabila terdapat ancaman terhadap nyawanya,” katanya pada sidang akhbar di Bukit Aman.

Selain Hoon Cheng, turut ditahan di bawah semalam ialah Ahli Exco Kerajaan Negeri Selangor, Teresa Kok dan pengendali laman web Malaysia Today, Raja Petra Kamarudin.
Mereka ditahan mengikut Seksyen 73 (1) akta berkenaan.

Mengikut peruntukan itu, mereka boleh ditahan sehingga 60 hari tanpa perbicaraan sebelum Menteri Dalam Negeri membuat keputusan sama ada penahanan itu perlu dilanjutkan.