I’m sure everybody have learned about the latest spate of unjust arrests around the country… [source]
Raja Petra, Teresa Kok and Sin Chew reporter arrested under ISA
PETALING JAYA: Malaysia Today news portal editor Raja Petra Kamarudin, Seputeh MP Teresa Kok and Sin Chew Daily reporter Tan Hoon Cheng were arrested under the Internal Security Act (ISA) here and in Penang.The first person to be picked up was Raja Petra, 58, from his house in Sungai Buloh near here, followed by Tan, 32, who was arrested from her house in Bukit Mertajam, Penang. Teresa, 43, was detained at 11.20pm as she was on her way home in a car.
All of them were arrested under Section 73(1) of the ISA for allegedly being a threat to security, peace and public order.
A team of police officers from Bukit Aman arrived at Raja Petra’s house at 1.10pm and led him away 40 minutes later.
The team also took some 15 VCDs on ceramah held by Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim as well as 16 books.
Last week, the Department of Islamic Development (Jakim) and several Muslim bodies lodged a police report against Raja Petra, who is already facing criminal defamation charges for allegedly insulting the Malays, Muslims and Islam.
In a statement, Deputy Inspector General of Police Tan Sri Ismail Omar said Raja Petra was arrested based on surveillance that showed that he was involved in activities that could cause unrest among the multi-racial and multi-religious society of the country.
Tan, who was picked up at 8.40pm, was taken from her house in Taman Seri Rambai in Bukit Mertajam to the state police headquarters on the island.
Tan, 32, reported former Bukit Bendera Umno division chief Datuk Ahmad Ismail’s racist remarks while campaigning for the Permatang Pauh by-election.
Lee Kelvin from Guang Ming and Tan Ming Xao from Nanyang Siang Pau, who had vouched for the accuracy of Tan’s report had gone into hiding.
Kok, 43, who is also state assemblyman for Kinrara and the senior Selangor state executive councillor, was picked up over an alleged involvement with a resident’s petition over a mosque.
Acting Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Ismail Omar confirmed the arrests of Tan and Kok.
Under the Section, police are empowered to detain the trio for a period of 60 days after which the Home Minister can decide on further detention.
Home Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar admitted that the decision to detain people and issue show cause letters would be unpopular and would be criticised but it had to be done.
“While we may want to be popular, freedom without responsibilities has ramifications.
“We have to take action to protect the wishes of the majority,” he said.
Syed Hamid also said Raja Petra had been warned on many occasions in the last two years.
“Now, with so much public uneasiness, we do not want anything that can threaten peace in the country.
“The police looked at all aspects and, under present circumstances, the actions were necessary,” he added.
I can understand that the government wants a piece of RPK, but the 2 ladies?? The arrest of that Sin Chew reporter was the most outrageous.
Now help me to understand, a reporter reported a ratfink politician making racist remarks, and the reporter got arrested for ‘threatening the peace in the country’? Saddam Hussein, ring any bell?
This lends further credence to my belief that we seriously need to change the fucking government. Like, as soon as possible. Corruption, incompetence, retardation. Man, how much lower can you get?
If any of you are still thinking of voting for the current Barang Naik government in the next GE, you should really change your mind. Hell, I’d hate to pay my taxes to a bunch of crooks…
I think our PM’s timing is very good.
He uses racial + religion’s reason for ISA to send a warning signal to those MP that previously thinking about jumping ship at 16/9.
“While we may want to be popular, freedom without responsibilities has ramifications.” – Those arrested were carrying out their responsibilities in the beginning!
“We have to take action to protect the wishes of the majority,” he said. – After causing massive traffic jams in KL, Shit Hamid is speaking against the rakyat’s wishes again. To protect the wishes of the majority “of the pihak atasan”, guess he didn’t finish his words…
What a shame we are having this kind of “Home” Minister to administrate our “home” nation. A housewife would definitely fare better than he does managing a home.
pity that reporter, haih
Why arrest the person whose reported the incident instead of the person that created the incident?
There will be no smoke with fire..it is a shame, you (the government) don’t bring your brain everywhere you goes, but we (the rakyat) do!!, so the least you can do for us is respect our intelligence.
Good luck my fellow Malaysian!!
If im not mistaken, teresa kok was arrested under ISA because of RUMOURS she was the one tht called for the petition but it was just merely based on rumours. no proof, no evidence. but tht ass ahmad showed his stupidity live on air and ISA never make a sound. everyday when i read the newspaper , it really pisses me off. and now the idiotic MPs in taiwan r stuck there due to typhoon synlaku. wth.
jusoh – I’d think this is not solely his planning. He seems to be not intelligent enough to do all these. I think they were all largely influenced from some of his advisers and those who has high stakes (i.e. Najib, Najib and Najib)
cheehan – He’s saying it’s irresponsible to report something the government do not like to be reported. What a load of bullcrap.
Ah J – I think sometime ago, somebody commented in the paper that the crossover would be a laughing stock for the world. I mean like, aren’t we already? With all these flip-flops (they have released the reporter today – wtf) and ridiculous policies?
Patrick Tang – It wouldn’t have been THAT bad (still ridiculous though) if they were to ISA Ahmad, and suspend the reporter for 3 years… What more to ISA the reporter?
Jane – Yeah, due to faulty speaker at the mosque or something. That’s what our government is good at – protecting its own interest. See the reports lodged on various VIP (murder, corruption, stoking racial sentiments)? They didn’t lift a finger. But when (a), Anwar was alleged to have sodomised a kid, they stormed his house with SWAT team wearing balaclava with automatic weapons (as if Anwar’s dick’s a threat to the national security or something)… (b) Teresa Kok alleged to have done something they’re not sure of, they impose ISA on her. Bunch of jokers.
Those jokers sure now how to put a comedy show for us rakyat. Reporter held under ISA to be “protected” due her safety being threatened, and Teresa Kok getting arrested for the so called “complaint” she never made, these guys should start a comedy club bcoz they might be out of job soon. A sad day for Malaysia indeed.
“We have to take action to protect the wishes of the majority,” – huh? what majority?
“Now, with so much public uneasiness, we do not want anything that can threaten peace in the country” – the only uneasiness we experiencing right now is how the government handle the issues.
And the thing about issuing show cause letter to the 3 newpapers are just pathetic – blaming the media merely for revealing the truth.
“Bukit Bendera Umno division chief Datuk Ahmad Ismail’s racist remarks”
this is the number one threat to national security, national unity, and national harmony.
I gasped in horror when I read about the arrest of the reporter and Teresa Kok. I mean, seriously, what is happening to our country? I always knew that the gomen are not very intelligent but I had no idea that they actually have no brains. My goodness!
If only we can send those dickheads to Straits of Aden…
I love how they spin the story to make it seem like they’re doing us a favor. As usual, the front to “protect us” is used to pacify us like babie. These arrests are not justified, then again the ISA is not a justifiable body that should have been abolished aeons ago. Ironically speaking, Malaysia is part of the United Nation’s Humanitarian Body too.
It’s obvious this is just another bid from the government to create a racial riot because they KNOW they are going down come 9/16. You know, Syed Albar said he did not order the ISA to catch these people but the police did, I say it’s bullshit – I think it’s our premier himself that ordered these arrests. I feel bad for the DAP rep and RPK as they are currently used as bait to lure the uninitiated to start a bawl on the streets. But it just won’t happen now that we’re smarter and more informed.
So just stay cool and calm, stock up on food if need be, get some baseball bats and pepper sprays stored at home in case some goons from the powers that be decide to create ruckus and, read MichaelOoi.net
MC – Yeah, protecting her by arresting her… this is not something that we hear everyday. LOL
bubbles – I’d reply the show cause letter with only 4 words – ‘reporting the truth maa’.
anas – Unfortunately, the government doesn’t seem to think so. They think the reporter’s to blame.
jo – And now you know. It shudders me even more to think what have they been doing with the taxpayers’ money with that kind of stupidity and ignorance.
JT – Well, the pirates probably might have some use for them – target practice!
expedited writer – ISA is just a ploy by BN to intimidate its opponents, but in the process of doing that, they’re tainting themselves with shit. Now everyone’s so fucking pissed with the government…
With the political situation going downhill, PM, DPM and Ahmad should also be “protected” under ISA as the majority should be pissed like mad right now. What are they thinking? These 3 are the backbone of the country and we have to “protect” them at all cost. Since when reporter is more important than the brilliant ones running the country.
Retain her under ISA is obviously a dumb thing to do; retain her under ISA with the name of “protecting her” is even dumber.
It sounds to me like they decided to “show some color” by arresting her under ISA, the next day with all outbursts from the rakyat, they suddenly realize “OMG we didn’t think of THAT! ,.let’s release her and let’s think of sth smart to justify our action ….. oh right, we are PROTECTING HER! Brilliant!” … dumbasses.
Sai hamid claim to protect the reporter……protect my ass.
Immigrant – Hahah, yeah. And maybe those bunch who have made police reports about Teresa Kok should be thrown into detention camps too. They’re causing unrest by reporting maa (like the reporter).
sweewon – You don’t understand. This is actually in-line with their flip flop policy maa.
sam – Don’t. They’re gonna cut your ass and throw it into detention ler… you’d have to live without an ass for at least 60 days.
Ok, maybe I’m a bit of dungu when it comes to politics, but seriously, if all these dumbo hanky panky the gomen is pulling recently, I would seriously think it will just drive all the rakyat to vote for Opposition more. No? Why would the gomen continues to use silly tactics (well, besides them being brainless..but that’s a different story..)
To be honest, I was still pulling for BN (give chance mah) in the last election but now I’m jumping ship liao.
ISA = “Ikut Suka Aku”
For the sake of this country, we should vote NO to Barang Naik so that it reset the current situation, not that the pakatan is really good, but they are the alternative to the current problem. Its just like in the States where they have Republican and Democrats, they don’t hold on to the parliment forever, they change after 1 or 2 terms… and there’s where you have check and balance and progress for the nation.