RPK & Sin Chew Jit Poh journalist remanded under ISA

[Adrian Wong]

I think everyone can tell that the government has gone totally bonkers. Not only have they arrested RPK, they also arrested the Sin Chew Jit Poh journalist whose only "crime" was to report the racist comments made by Ahmad Ismail.

Sin Chew Daily journalist Tan Hoon Cheng has been arrested today under the Internal Security Act at 8.30pm at her home in Bukit Mertajam, Penang.

She is the second person to be arrested today under the tough security law which allows for detention without trial.
It is learnt that she has been taken by the police to the Penang police headquarters.

Tan had reported that local Umno chieftain Ahmad Ismail had allegedly said that Chinese Malaysians are “squatters” in the country.

Her report sparked a nationwide outcry, resulting in Ahmad being suspended by Umno for three years after an emergency meeting on Wednesday.

Sin Chew had three days ago came out strongly to defend Tan, who was accused by Ahmad for misreporting his comments.

It is unclear whether Ahmad, who remained defiant despite being slapped with the suspension, has also been detained.

Funny enough, the criminal only got away with a 3-year suspension. The journalist who reported his comments got remanded under ISA. It's like jailing a journalist for writing about a rape while giving the rapist a 3-year suspended sentence.

IMHO, this is UMNO throwing the gauntlet down at ALL OF US. If you are one of those who think that the Pakatan Rakyat should just "wait" for the next elections, I hope they have now convinced you that DRASTIC ACTION is needed. We need the Barisan Nasional government OUT ASAP!

Just as the MCMC unblocks “Malaysia Today”, Raja Petra Kamaruddin’s controversial news portal, Malaysiakini reports that Raja Petra (or RPK) (pic below) has been arrested under the Internal Security Act 1960 (ISA). RPK’s wife, Marina Lee Abdullah, was reported to have said that he was arrested at 1310 on 12th September 2008, with 10 police personnel in attendance at RPK’s home. According to Malaysiakini, RPK was arrested under s. 73(1) of the Act, allegedly for being a threat to security, peace and public order.

The ISA was first enacted in 1960, ostensibly to curb the threat communism. The preamble of the Act states:

An Act to provide for the internal security of Malaysia, preventive detention, the prevention of subversion, the suppression of organized violence against persons and property in specified areas of Malaysia, and for matters incidental thereto.

Apparently, detention without trial under the ISA operates in two stages:

initial detention of up to 60 days upon the authority of the police
then a two year renewable order by the authority of the Home Minister
Detainees are apparently held in solitary confinement and denied any contact with lawyers. The notorious Operasi Lalang of 1987 was a massive crackdown on opposition leaders, academicis, religious, social and environmental activists. The 1990s saw the detention of Al-Arqam leaders, the alleged ring leaders of the Reformasi and Hindraf Movements. Click here for a list of known detainees under the Malaysian Internal Security Act 1960.

Critics have said that the government’s continued use of the ISA defeats the Government’s own claim to be subject to the rule of law, and will just give the perception that the detainees are held for their political activities.

RPK’s detentions is reported to be at the first stage, for 60 days. Opposition parties strongly condemn this move by the government.

However, while the Pakatan Rakyat works to get some BN MPs to jump across the divide, let's keep it cool. UMNO is likely to employ tactics to increase tension, like the use of DAP clothes and flags by BN Mat Rempits to terrorize residents during the recent by-elections.

I don't think there's a need to panic. We just need to be a little more careful when we are outside. The most important thing is to avoid giving UMNO the option of declaring an emergency again, and using the ISA on all those who oppose them.

------------

MEET UP FOR A NEW MALAYSIA!!!!

It's time for all Malaysians to rise. Rise up against the tyranny, corruption and injustice that is the hallmark of the Barisan Nasional government! Rise up for freedom and justice!!

Come to the Kelana Jaya Stadium at 8 pm, on September 15! Come and join the Malaysian people in saying, "Enough is enough!"

[The_YongGrand]

Oh finally another post from ya blog, Dr!

Hmm... I guess that Ahmad's words could be very intentional, in order to stall some stuff by the Opposition. I could be wrong, but I *think* I know he's planning this one not to piss the others off - he's into another agenda.

And what the heck they said they relieve the bloggers from all the scrutiny and then now start arresting them?? Which one should they actually do?

[Adrian Wong]

OMG! They just arrested Teresa Kok too!!

Is this Operasi Lalang all over again??????

DAP leader Teresa Kok has also been detained under the Internal Security Act - the third person to be detained without trial today.

MCPXIt is learnt that the Selangor senior executive councillor and Seputeh parliamentarian was stopped by the police at about 11.18pm on her way back from a function in Kuala Lumpur.She was arrested after her vehicle was blocked by three police patrol cars.

Deputy inspector-general of police Ismail Omar said that Kok's arrest was made under Section 73(1) of the Act.

In Penang, chief minister and DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng said the party would be holding an emergency meeting tomorrow to discuss the matter.

Earlier today, Malaysia Today editor Raja Petra Kamaruddin and Sin Chew Daily journalist Tan Hoon Cheng were also arrested under the Act.

[peaz]

And was there any tension at all in the real life and the streets of Malaysia? NO! I can only imagine where all the tension is concentrated at.

Gosh.

[plasma]

This is totally Outrages... there is no reason to believe Teresa or the newspaper reporter could threaten the security of the country pending a fair trail. Why the need to invoke the ISA?

This is getting out of hand. Bodowi just sealed his own fate.

[The_YongGrand]

Damn, they are getting so desperate!!

[ZuePhok]

don't do anything stoopid! or else you will be giving them more excuses to do take even more ridiculous steps.

[Lacus]

not to mention, it seems the sin chiew jit poh's license is gonna be taken by the government it seems D:..according to my friend who works there..

[Adrian Wong]

Originally Posted by plasma

This is totally Outrages... there is no reason to believe Teresa or the newspaper reporter could threaten the security of the country pending a fair trail. Why the need to invoke the ISA?

This is getting out of hand. Bodowi just sealed his own fate.

They arrested Teresa Kok because they claim she provoked racial tensions over claims that she asked mosques to "tone down" the Azan prayer calls. Funny, she only denied it. Why not arrest the person who made the false allegations - Khir Toyo? If denying it is a crime, why not arrest the imams of the mosques who also denied that ever happened? In short, this is nothing more than BN bullshit.

They arrested Ms. Tan because they felt there was an imminent threat to her life. Funny, why not catch the perpetrators? Why not just give her 24-hour protection? Heck, why release her from her "protective custody under ISA" after one day? Is the police telling us that they caught the people planning to kill her, and her life is no longer in danger?

Again, this is nothing more than BN bullshit.

[Adrian Wong]

Originally Posted by Lacus

not to mention, it seems the sin chiew jit poh's license is gonna be taken by the government it seems D:..according to my friend who works there..

Yeah, that's possible. If that happens, well, I think we should all stop buying ALL other newspapers. Send the word out that we will not trust the other newspapers that only toe the government line.