SDP: Malaysia ISA arrests show weakness not strength

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DAP's Teresa Kok (left), Raja Petra (middle), and Sin Chew reporter Tan Hoon Cheng (right) arrested under the ISA

Singapore Democrats

The recent spate of arrests by the Malaysian Government using the Internal Security Act is a sign of weakness, not strength.

The troubled ruling coalition of Barisan Nasional is clearly coming apart at the seams and is resorting to dirty politics that only dirty politicians play.

Every time a government uses detention without trial on opposition politicians as well as citizens, it shows a certain weakness of the mind and soul. Instead of winning the argument on the power of persuasion, it resorts to violent coercion.

Such shame, however, belongs not only to Malaysia but Singapore as well. The PAP Government has also made numerous such arrests in the past and continues to threaten the people with the ISA.

The SDP calls on the Malaysian Government to immediately and unconditionally release Ms Teresa Kok, Mr Raja Petra Kamaruddin and Ms Tan Hoon Cheng, and to bring the country back on the path to democracy.

Gandhi Ambalam
Chairman
Singapore Democratic Party

Teresa Kok, Sin Chew reporter arrested under ISA
The Star
12 Sep 08

DAP's Teresa Kok is the latest to be arrested under Section 73 (1) of the ISA Friday.

Kok, who is Seputeh MP and also assemblyman for Kinrara, was arrested at 11.20pm Friday over a religious matter concerning a mosque.

Deputy IGP Tan Sri Ismail Omar confirmed Kok's arrest.

Kok was arrested while on the way to her home in OG Heights in Old Klang Road here after a function in Bandar Utama.

She was taken to the Wangsa Maju police station where she is being held under tight security.

Earlier, Sin Chew Daily News reporter Tan Hoon Cheng was arrested at her home in Taman Permai in Bukit Mertajam at 8.40pm Friday.

Family members said they were told that she would be taken to the Bandar Perda police station in Seberang Jaya.

Ismail said Tan was also arrested under Section 73 (1) of the ISA.

Sin Chew reporter Tan Hoon Cheng being taken away Friday night from the Bandar Perda police station in Seberang Jaya to the Penang police headquarters.

A colleague said Tan called the office to inform them that the police had picked her up at her home at 8.30pm.

However, when several colleagues tried to call her back on her handphone some 10 minutes later, the phone had been switched off.

On Friday night more than 100 people, including politicians, members of non-governmental organisations and journalists, gathered at the Penang police contingent to stage a silent protest against Tan's arrest.

Suaram members and former USM students holding a candlelight vigil outside the Penang police headquarters Friday night for Sin Chew reporter Tan Hoon Cheng, who has been arrested under the ISA.

Tan, who is Mass Communications graduate from Universiti Sains Malaysia, has been a journalist for nine years.

She had reported on former Bukit Bendera division Umno chief Datuk Ahmad Ismail's alleged racist remarks while campaigning for the Permatang Pauh by-election.

The arrest comes on the same day that Malaysia Today editor Raja Petra Kamaruddin was detained, also under the ISA.

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Comments (7)

Sun 14 Sep 2008 5:45 PM | Wan - ISA Arrests

Appealing to a nobler sentiment is rather as useless as calling them names because they are they not fighting for their political life or hold on power per se but because of the skeletons in their cupboards should they lose position of power. They do not care if they bring the country to their ruins and innocent blood is spilled so long . They proclaim to be muslims but .... Need I say more.

Sun 14 Sep 2008 5:45 PM | anon - the dark ages - ASEAN

It seems that ASEAN has not progress very much. It is no wonder many claimed that ASEAN is still in the dark ages.

Sun 14 Sep 2008 9:33 PM | mikee - I agree

Many of the rulers are corrupt, just look around ...

Sun 14 Sep 2008 10:25 PM | reader

If it was Lee he would used the... Communists / Marxists-Are-Out-To-Get Singaporeans story again. LOL!!!

Mon 15 Sep 2008 4:36 PM | On Loosing end - Very desperate

[quote]Every time a government uses detention without trial on opposition politicians as well as citizens, it shows a certain weakness of the mind and soul. Instead of winning the argument on the power of persuasion, it resorts to violent coercion.[/quote]

[b]A well said quote! It means they are on the loosing end like FamiLee using defamation suits[/b]!

Tue 16 Sep 2008 10:34 AM | L** K*** Y**

Don't get anguish guys they will have to
face defamation sue since they never get my liberty, I gonna get this illegitimate Malaysian Government as the Illegitimate
of this tactics and the owner with license.

Sun 21 Sep 2008 6:22 AM | Druid

I - Institutional
S- Silencing
A-Arsenal

ASEAN did nothing in East Timor. The souls of Santa Cruz Massacre cry out!

Legalism and Caste system still in vogue la!