Saturday, September 13, 2008

Shortest ever ISA detention

Glad to be home, mum!
Sin Chew Daily reporter Tan Hoon Cheng has finally been released and Malaysians are still wondering why was she arrested in the first place. She made history by having served the shortest detention period under the ISA, to be exact 20 hours. It will also go down in history as the most outrageous ISA detention. Her release has been a relief but there are plenty of misgivings among the people. Has the government heard the loud voices? See On The Beat for more comments.

38 comments:

Anonymous said...

Thank goodness she has been released. This simply shows the power of the people who only want this country to be a better place. People from all races and parties. This shows that no govt should ignore the voice of its people. Let's keep our fingers crossed that justice prevails for other innocent ISA detainees.

Anonymous said...

How apt that you mentioned why she was detained in the first place. It is something that we'll never understand, I guess.

Ah Beng Crosby said...

You want to know why? Becoz it is a no brainer, that is why. Ms. Tan is a reporter, she reported what she saw and heard. 20 hours of detention, minus the hours on the road (4hrs), resting time (5 hrs), personal and misc time (2 hrs) what she got was probably 9 hrs of interogation time. That could have been wrapped up within daytime. Why the drama?

The bottomline, the culprit still at large and untouchable. Can the Star take up the challenge to pursue this matter? To nail the culprit?

Anonymous said...

Has the government heard the loud voices?

I dont think so. Have you caught the video clip on Syed Hamid Albar's news conferencing. He is trying to lie out of the fix. How can he have heard anything?

Anonymous said...

Are we to believe that the government had nothing to do with the arrests that took place yesterday? So do they now expect us to believe it was all the police’s own doing?

“Syed Hamid said the police thought it was best to get first-hand information from Tan and thus took her in under the ISA and released her a day later after they got the necessary information and found no reason to hold her.”

Do you need to arrest a person under ISA at night and at home just to get information from her? Hasn’t she already given her statement to the police earlier? Could she not just have been invited to the police station on Saturday morning for a further statement, if indeed such “information“ was needed?

It was also reported that the reporter had been taken in for her own safety. Now this must surely be the icing on the cake.

Do you need to arrest someone under ISA to provide her police protection? If so why has Saiful Bukhari (Anwar’s accuser) who I believe is under police protection not been given the same treatment.

If there indeed was a threat against her , why hasn’t the police arrest anyone in connection of such a threat? Why for heaven’s sake arrest the victim under ISA?

The reporter has been released in less than 24 hours and without any police protection, so where is the threat now? Has it just “disappeared” as soon as she was arrested and detained?

The reasons given till now for the arrest of the Sin Chew reporter is absolute rubbish.

Please do not continue to insult our intelligence.

Anonymous said...

Good evening Datuk,

"Has the government heard the loud voices?"

No, they never! It's just that the chaos they try to create didn't work. Thanks to all right-minded Malaysians use mature approaches to demonstrate our resistances. We didn't fall into their trap.

Anonymous said...

Somewhere, amidst this whole cacaphony of ridiculous situations; may common sense prevail. The simple reason being that the higher echeleons of UMNO know not what the correlation between the left & right hand. Being aloft "up there", consumed by their wealth and ignorance; they're so far detached from the common thoughts of the Rakyat; the very people who put them there.

The statement by Home Minister (we were worried for her safety???!!) will probably go down in history as the most moronic yet from the government and I'm indeed quite convinced that another moron from within the ranks will definitely top it up wit another "gem". It's evidently clear that they get turned-on by this game of up-manship on this wreckless path of stupidity.

For the love of God and common good for Malaysians, why shoot the messenger?

romerz said...

We no longer have a single government but rather factions of UMNO who in turn controls the different arms of government!

http://romerz.blogspot.com/2008/09/agent-provocateur.html

telur dua said...

It may be a record, but she should not have been arrested at all.

Zahar said...

Yes it's nice to be able to get our rocks off talking about this, but why not wait for the reported herself to tell what exactly happened?

Anonymous said...

ah beng crosby

dont fall into their trap. dont over-react. they aint stupid. there's a motive behind. remember the 1987 najib-lee kim sai wayang?
stay clear. vote with your feet when the times come.

Anonymous said...

If Syed Hamid said the detention of Tan Hoon Cheng is for her safety, can you protect someone under ISA ? is this the objective of ISA? I think Syed Hamid can go sell Roti Canai.

Friends of Penang

Anonymous said...

One question on many people's mind is: how is it possible that a man whose thoughtless and hurtful remark started a furore can walk away scot free whilst three people who are peripherally involved are jailed?

This is very much like a court of justice setting a rapist free while sending the victim to jail.

There is obvious and gross injustice written all over this episode.

Anonymous said...

Never knew the Albaman and the garmen to be so 'caring' for its citizens. Instead of 'protecting' her, now the whole world knows how the reporter looks like. Maybe she needs a 'face-off' job now, compliments of the garmen! What a joke! :-(


Kopi-kia.

Anonymous said...

This country seems to be full of desperate people from the top to the bottom. there is the pm desperately trying to keep himself relevant and there is this former pm who is desperately trying to outst him. there is this former pm who is desperately trying to take over the government. there is this deputy prime minister desperately trying to take over the pm post. desperados, desperados, all over . i will call this country desperado country.

Shaking Heads

Anonymous said...

Heard rumours that MCA and Gerakan threatened to quit BN if this journalist is not release from detention. The argument by leaders of both parties that her detention will not only create anger among party members but also erode the already low support from the Chinese community. Hence the flip flop decision to make her the briefest ISA detainee. Surely you know about this. Pls comment la.

Anonymous said...

NO, the UMNO government is deaf to the rakyat's feelings. They only think of how to stay in power and on the gravy train.
Why on earth does MCA still want to hang around with UMNO is also another case of deafness. We all know UMNO is deaf. But is MCA deaf too? Is Gerakan deaf too? Is MIC deaf too? Have they not heard the rakyat'swish that they quit BN?

jrajster said...

I'm sicken by the statement of Syed Hamid. Numerous time I've said politic is your business, we are not interested. Our only request is play it clean and professional and please, I mean please for god sake don't treat us citizens as fools.

But Syed Hamid never seems to understand the meaning. Yesterday once again he attempted to make us look like fools by saying the Sin Chew reporter too to be blamed for the arrest.

Guys, if I had RPK's tongue my mouth by now would smell with filthy words to describe him.

Anonymous said...

Let's discard ISA and have more frequent open debate on sensitive issues on race, religions and whatever that will hurt each one of us.

perhaps the courts have all the solutions to all the problem to satisfy all parties.

No more give and take or respect.

Malaysians are ready for this.

Anonymous said...

The ISA is such a draconian Law..... and how it is being used so flippantly......so grossly irresponsible and dangerous!!!

Anonymous said...

Insight: After they realise losing more votes with Tan' arrest, under advice of MCA/Gerakan they release her, but the damage is beyond repair, people are disgusted..!!! it strengthen people resolve for government change whether is 16 Sep or beyond....

Ir. Dr. K.C. Ng said...

If her life is threatened, then she should still be under police protection, then why release her into unprotected custody at her home? I think the explanation given by Syed Hamid is seriously flawed.

Anonymous said...

"She was detained because her life was threatened" Now that's one bumbling excuse I never thought would be offered. What an idiotic reason issued by a bigger idiot of a minister! So if someone threatens any of our ministers, do they detained under ISA for their "security". Such a dramatic public reversal of decision clearly shows the government is in a panic mode, trying to grab anything to stay relevant. I am sure there are more intelligent, rational and qualified people who can be Home Minister. Change the idiot!!!

Sal said...

Dato Wong, congratulations for your great article in The Star. But you know what, the UMNO people do not read The Star, and Pak Lah does not read at all. That explains why they are not aware of how people in the strees are feeling about them. It is really shameful for us Malaysians to have a govt which seems to do stupid things and say the most ridiculous things. They talk about unity, blah blah blah blah, and yet they do the opposite. The rakyat have had enough. Which is why we all should support Anwar for taking over the govt by 16th September.

dragonfly said...

Morons like Botak enjoyed being called stupid....it's a compliment. There is no end to such outrageous remarks.

Anonymous said...

Idiotic explanations are being dished out by the BN ministers. Totally idiotic and arrogant, and insulting our intelligence.
I wonder how the cabinet is chosen! By reverse order in qualifications?
Dato Wong, if you do not wish to die of fatigue rushing back to the office everynight to edit your journalists' reports on arrests, ship jumping, etc, I think you better put a bed in your office, because I think there will be more such incidents in the near future. And I suggest you better hedge your bets and put your picture with Anwar back on the desk.

Anonymous said...

The non-bumis are just being used as scape goats and sacrificial lambs by the UMNO factions in their own internal fight for power.
It is like the gorillas thumping their chests to see who is the more racist of the racists, in order to get the internal votes to shore up their political fortunes. These warlords are willing to sacrifice the peace in the country for their own vested interests. What is different this time is that there is a strong bumi opposition which never existed before, and also the internet has allowed the rakyat to see through the plots of these UMNO warlords. The Rakyat of all races and religions should unite and not fall for these divisive tricks by UMNO.

Anonymous said...

Gerakan should switch camp to support PR now. If the Gerakan leaders and members were too deaf to hear the Rakyat, maybe they should have heard it loud and clear in a different way from Ahmad and from Syed. Gerakan should just disband., It is so irrelevant. The rakyat has discarded it. And even its BN boss, UMNO, is kicking dirt in its face. And MCA, please don't wait until you become like Gerakan. MCA should quit BN and merge with PKR or DAP.

Anonymous said...

Syed Hamid said he had nothing to do with the ISA detention and left it to the police to decide. Yet he used "we" in countless times during the press conference yesterday. Did that not give away very obviously?

And if he had nothing to do with teh arrest, why did he take all the trouble to justify the police's actions. Why hadn't he questioned the police's motives?

Anonymous said...

Thanks for the article in the paper today. Good day!

What about Kok?

Anonymous said...

I think its fantastic that some MCA leaders finally spoke up for what is right. People like Lim Kit Siang are also heroes to many ordinary people, not hiding when he knows that he could be very well on the ISA -next list. Thank you Datuk Zaid Ibrahim for speaking up against the use of ISA !!! There is still hope that even BN members will stick their neck against the atrocity of using the draconian ISA against civilians!

Anonymous said...

zaid is the last of the good "mohicans" with conscience.
i have always respected him for his fairness, openness and respect for rule of law.
he is the exception and not the rule in BN.
As for the component parties, please they are just hopeless. You can rely on them working hand in gloves with the dominant UMNO for obvious personal benefits.

Anonymous said...

Datuk Zaid Ibrahim, you are in the wrong party. If you don't believe in the use of ISA on civilians, please come over to Pakatan Rakyat. Join PKR, and help us usher in a new era of democracy.

Anonymous said...

Help me! I am really puzzled. If somebody threaten my life who should I report to now? I don't want to be detained under ISA! Lesson to be learnt - plan properly la when u want to execute anything. If u need to give any excuse think first so that tak nampak bodoh sangat. Selamat menyambut Hari Malaysia and may God help us, before it's to late. From me a Kampung Boy.

Anonymous said...

I wish to congratulate you for the well written article in the Star today, which voiced out the views of the silent majority in Malaysia.

There is indeed a gross miscarriage of justice.


ISA should have be abolished long ago. NO one should be detained without trial, without hearing his side of the story in open court.

This is a new world and peole are much better informed and connected . To use old ways in modern times shows how much our so-called leaders are out of touch with the ground and the times.

Keep voicing out, Dato.

Anonymous said...

I like the strong and clear anti-ISA message in your On the Beat coloumn. But I am very disappointed that you are not mentioning the detension of Teresa Kok. To me that fact that the police arrests a Member of Parliament for no obvious reason equally frightening as that they detains a journalist. In more "civilsed" democrasies the parlamentarians are protected from being arrested unless on very clear charges and the current use of ISA against opposition MPs is totally unjustified.
Is there a reason for you not mentioning Teresa?

Anonymous said...

This must be a classic case of stupidity at ite worse for a person to even said that Tan is arrested under the ISA because of safety reason. We the Rakyat are not bodoh even you surely look like one because only a stupid person can make such a stupid statement.Congratulation because you will be remember as one for a long, long time.

Unknown said...

see, how god bless u, when u do the right thing.....gunners won 4-0 !