Tuesday September 23, 2008 MYT 4:56:47 PM
Syed Hamid confirms signing RPK’s detention order
RANTAU PANJANG: Home Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar on Tuesday confirmed that blogger and Malaysia Today portal editor Raja Petra Kamaruddin has been detained under the Internal Security Act (ISA) at the Kamunting Detention Camp, Taiping, for two years.
Syed Hamid said he himself had signed the detention order on Raja Petra on Monday after he was satisfied with the reasons given for his detention.
”The detention is due to Raja Petra’s articles that ridiculed Islam which could arouse anger among Muslims.
”The police had recommended his detention and after going through the papers, we are satisfied that there are strong grounds for him to be further detained for two years (in Kamunting),” he told reporters Tuesday after a visit to the Malaysia-Thai border area, here.
Raja Petra was arrested under the ISA on Sept 12 as he was felt to be a threat to public order and national security. Besides him, two others arrested under the ISA were Seputeh member of parliament Teresa Kok and Sin Chew Daily reporter Tan Hoon Cheng, but the two were later released.
Syed Hamid, however, said that after the first three months, the authorities would review Raja Petra’s attitude while in detention.
”Then the second review will be after six months, and we’ll see whether he can be released or not,” he added.
Syed Hamid said the people should understand why the Government decided to use the ISA, as what was important was to turn offenders into members of society who could contribute to nation building.
He said to date, he had not received any official proposals to free the other ISA detainees.
”If there are, I will look at them. But again what is more important is for the detainees to change to be able to return to society and together with other citizens, take part in nation building,” he said. - Bernama
Related story:
Raja Petra to be detained 2yrs under ISA
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