Saturday September 13, 2008
MCA shocked by arrest of reporter and not perpetrator
PETALING JAYA: The MCA has expressed shock that former Bukit Bendera Umno division chairman Datuk Ahmad Ismail, who made racist remarks has not been taken to task but reporter Tan Hoon Cheng, who wrote about the incident, has been arrested instead.
“The perpetrator who vowed to conduct a nationwide roadshow on his remarks without any remorse is still at large,” MCA vice-president Datuk Ong Tee Keat said in a statement yesterday.
He said anybody in his right mind would certainly be stunned by such an arrest targeted at the reporter and not the perpetrator.
MCA vice-president Datuk Seri Dr Fong Chan Onn said he disagreed with the use of the ISA on Tan.
“As a reporter, Tan was only carrying out duties assigned to her. Her story had gone through the due editorial process before it was printed,” he said.
Information Minister Datuk Ahmad Shabery Cheek said the arrest of Raja Petra Kamaruddin was judicious because he ridiculed Islam in his postings which could spark fury among Muslims.
Gerakan president Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon, meanwhile, urged the Government to bring Raja Petra to trial in court under existing laws.
“This is consistent with Gerakan’s stand that the ISA should be reviewed, if not repealed,” Dr Koh said in a statement.
Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim condemned Raja Petra’s arrest and called for his immediate release.
“Raja Petra should be given access to proper legal counsel, and his wife and children should not be denied an opportunity to visit him while he is held captive,” he said in a statement.
DAP adviser Lim Kit Siang called for Raja Petra’s release as there was no justification for his detention. He said Raja Petra should be charged in court if he had infringed the law, and not held in detention without trial.
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