RAJA PETRA, TERESA KOK, SIN CHEW REPORTER ARRESTED UNDER ISA
KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 13 (Bernama) -- Blogger Raja Petra Kamarudin, Seputeh member of parliament Teresa Kok and a Sin Chiew Daily News reporter were arrested Friday under the Internal Security Act (ISA).
Raja Petra was picked up from his house in Sungai Buloh at 1.10pm, Kok in front of her condominium here at 11.20pm while the Sin Chew Daily News reporter, Tan Hoon Cheng, was picked up from her house in Bukit Mertajam in Penang at 8.30pm.
Deputy Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Ismail Omar confirmed the arrest three.
Home Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar earlier Friday said that Raja Petra was detained after it was ascertained that he could disrupt and threaten security and public order.
Syed Hamid said when contacted that the blogger's detention came in the wake of various statements published by Raja Petra in his blog "Malaysia Today", the latest being a commentary which allegedly ridiculed Islam and Prophet Muhammad.
Raja Petra reportedly incited Muslims with a commentary on the article "I promise to be a good, non-hypocritical Muslim" which contained sentences that ridiculed Muslims besides allowing a commentary which ridiculed Islam and Prophet Muhammad with reference to the article "Not all Arabs are descendants of the Prophet" published in the "Malaysia Today" blog.
Section 73(1) of the ISA permits the detention of an individual for up to 60 days.
In Penang, news of Tan's arrest prompted several political party leaders, reporters and photographers to gather outside the Seberang Perai Tengah district police headquarters where the reporter was taken to.
Tan's family members were also there but declined to be interviewed.
Tan is the reporter who wrote the news claiming that Bukit Bendera Umno division chief, Datuk Ahmad Ismail, had said in a ceramah during the Permatang Pauh by-election that the Chinese were mere "immigrants" in the country.
At 11.10pm, Tan was seen coming out of the Seberang Perai Tengah IPD accompanied by two policemen and entering a Proton Waja car, believed to be heading to the state police headquarters on the island.
The car was also escorted by two dark-tinted Proton Wira cars, and on passing by the group of waiting reporters, Tan managed to wave at them.
Bukit Mertajam MP Chong Eng, who was earlier allowed by police to enter the IPD to see the detained reporter but was not allowed to speak to her, told reporters that Tan who was not handcuffed, appeared calm but shed some tears.
Some 100 leaders and supporters of political parties, including from MCA, Gerakan and DAP gathered outside the police headquarters and lighted up candles as a sign of protest over the reporter's arrest.
Meanwhile, Raja Petra's wife, Marina Lee Abdullah, said 10 policemen came to the house and detained her husband at 1.10 pm and took him away at 1.50 pm.
Marina said the police also took several tapes and a computer from her husband's room.
Raja Petra was detained under the ISA in April 2001 for his involvement in the reformation movement and was held for 53 days at the Kamunting Detention Centre in Taiping, Perak.
How is it that the reporter who reported a racist statement made by Ahmad Ismail gets arrested under ISA, for being a threat to the nation, while that damned racist goes around the state holding press conferences defending his views, not being sorry about it, and refusing to apologise eventhough the Deputy PM had apologised on his behalf? And he gets invited to tea with the PM so that he could explain his actions.
WTF is going on???
Now they claim to arrest Tan as her safety was under threat. You mean that's what the ISA is for? If her life is in danger, shouldn't you, I dunno, send some police over to her house instead? Or maybe put her under some protection program? Honestly, I really wouldn't know. I'm not in the business of peace enforcement or provision of protection services.
Really now, do they somehow pity Anwar and try help out his crusade a little? I think it's working.
