Tan Hoon Cheng released - and will they now go home?

Sin Chew Daily News reporter Tan Hoon Cheng has been released. Penang state police chief Deputy Comm Datuk Wira Ayub Yaakub said Tan was sent to her house in Bukit Mertajam at 4.15pm. - Star, 13/9/2008 - Sin Chew reporter released (Update 2)

It is GREAT news - and we look forward to also the release of Teresa Kok, Raja Petra, Uthayakumar, M Manaoharan and all others detained under the ISA and other laws that allow for detention without trial

It may be also interesting to consider what National Union of Journalist (NUJ) President had to say about what our PM just said some days ago...

NUJ president Norila Mohd Daud when contacted Saturday said the union felt sad and disappointed over the arrest.

“Only a few weeks ago, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi mentioned that the media should write the truth and there should be no fear in writing the truth. Look what has happened now,” she told The Star.

“It is obvious that the Government is not keeping to its word,” she added - Star, 13/9/2008 -NUJ saddened, disappointed by arrest (updated)

I wonder whether NUJ, and the other journalist/media organisations stance are with regard the ISA and those still being detained under them Detention Without Trial Laws.. Before, the were with the rest of civil society calling for the repeal of all Detention Without Trial Laws, and for the immediate and unconditional release of those still under detention.

It is my hope that NUJ and the rest of the journalist community just do not go home after their reporter has been released - because Teresa, Raja Petra, Uthaya, Mano and others are still being detained.

It was also good to see some of the BN component parties coming out against the ISA, and it will be sad if that will stop after the journalist is released.

MCA

MCA is pressing for a review of the Internal Security Act (ISA) to check abuses and confusion about its implementation.

Its Wanita chief Datuk Dr Ng Yen Yen said MCA had all the while asked the Government to review the law, which many had deemed as draconian.

“ISA must be used only for national security with the confidence of all Malaysians.

“But, if at all the ISA is seen to create more non-confidence and confusion among Malaysians, then the Government must review it,” she said Saturday after attending a Seberang Prai MCA delegates conference at Fook Yuen restaurant in Bukit Tengah, here.

Dr Ng said following the arrest of Sin Chew Daily News reporter Tan Hoon Cheng on Friday, it was very obvious that the ISA could be abused under certain circumstances.

“We (the MCA) will definitely, after this (episode), be even more vocal and more determined to ask for a review of the ISA,” she said. - Star, 13/9/2008 - Review ISA, urges MCA (updated)

MIC

MIC president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu on Saturday appealed to the Government to release Sin Chew Daily News reporter Tan Hoon Cheng who was arrested under the Internal Security Act (ISA) on Friday.

In a statement Saturday, he said he would ask Home Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar to immediately release Tan.

He said by doing so certain elements will not blame the Government for curtailing press freedom.

Samy Vellu added that Tan is a young reporter and only reported what was said. Therefore he appealed to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to release her. - Star, 13/9/2008 - Release reporter, urges Samy Vellu

GERAKAN

Former Bukit Bendera Umno division chief Datuk Ahmad Ismail may have an unlikely advocate on the question of whether he should be dealt with under the Internal Security Act for allegedly making racially sensitive statements in the run-up to the Permatang Pauh by-election.

And that person is Gerakan acting president Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon himself, the man he has been feuding with.

Koh said the party had always supported the due process of law despite suggestions that the ISA be applied in this case.

"Out of anger and disgust, some of our leaders have called for the use of the most stringent law.

"But I agree with Rais that we should proceed with the Sedition Act and other laws first," he said, referring to Umno supreme council member Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim's statement on the subject.

Rais had stated on Thursday that Ahmad should not be detained under the ISA and hoped his case would go through the normal process of law. - New Straits Times, 13/9/2008 - Invoking ISA is not the solution, says Koh

* For a while, I was dissapointed that there were those in GERAKAN calling for the use of ISA.

Angry we may be - but let us all be consistent and not call for the usage of the ISA and/or any other laws for Detention Without Trial on anyone...

As the PM and the government has heard the calls for release, and have released Tan Hoon Cheng - let us also hope that they will go forward and release the rest who are being detained under the ISA.

I hope GERAKAN, MCA and MIC do not stop their call for the release of ISA detainees - after Tan Hoon Cheng is released...