Monday September 15, 2008
Suhakam: Reporter’s arrest an abuse of ISA
KUALA LUMPUR: It was an abuse of the Internal Security Act to arrest reporter Tan Hoon Cheng because of concern for her safety, said Suhakam.
“It would appear from the Home Minister’s statement that the Sin Chew Daily reporter was detained because her security was under threat and not because what she did was a threat to national security,” said Suhakam chairman Tan Sri Abu Talib when contacted yesterday.
Tan, who had written about the then Bukit Bendera Umno division chief’s statement during the recent Permatang Pauh by-election where he had called the Chinese community squatters undeserving of equal rights, was picked up by the police on Friday.
She was released on Saturday afternoon.
Home Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar had told a press conference at Bukit Aman that the police had received information that Tan’s life was under threat.
Asked whether it was a correct practice to use the ISA to “protect” a person, Abu Talib, a former Attorney-General, said: “The ISA was never envisaged for that.”
“Even if there was information that her life was threatened, it did not justify arresting her under the ISA or any other law.
“The police should have instead taken her to a safe place. I am happy and relieved that Tan has been released.
“Detention without trial is against human rights principles; that’s why we advised the Government years ago to repeal the ISA,” he said.
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