Masjid Kinrara siad Teresa was not involved but Syed Hamid says otherwise

Masjid Kinrara, the mosque which is embroiled in an azan controversy, said DAP parliamentarian Teresa Kok was not involved in the petition to lower the volume of its loudspeakers.

According to Abdul Rahman Nasir (left), who is head of the mosque committee, Kok had never set foot in Masjid Kinrara to present the residents' petition. Kok was arrested under the Internal Security Act for allegedly causing tension and conflict among races as laid out in the notice issued by the Special Branch police to her next of kin.

Former Selangor Menteri Besar Dr Mohd Khir Toyo has earlier alleged that Kok had submitted a petition calling for the mosque to "tone down" the azan. Early this week, Umno-owned Utusan Malaysia has picked on Khir Toyo's comment and highlighted the issue.

Home Minister Syed Hamid Albar said Teresa had started a very sensitive issue with the question of the azan and that's why she was arrested under the ISA.

Syed Hamid Albar has implied that Sin Chew Daily reporter Tan Hoon Cheng was also to be blamed for the public furore over the ‘Chinese squatter’ remark.

“The whole thing was started by her, (so) it was best that we talked to her,” Syed Hamid said.

Syed Hamid said the ripple effects from Tan’s article had caused “the polemic and fear” thus warranting investigations by the police.

“That information is from her and it was published. (Since) it has been published, it is best that we get to the bottom of it by getting the information from her," Syed Hamid said.


Source: Malaysiakini: Kok not involved in azan petition, says mosque; Minister: Journalist to be blamed too

Gerakan acting present Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon has called on the government to either amend or abolish the Internal Security Act.

He said the existence of the act painted a very negative perception of the country to the outside world, adding that it was also irrelevant considering the country had a sound judicial system in place.

“It is time this act be seriously looked at. Gerakan strongly urges the government to abolish the ISA once and for all.

“There is no reason why anyone should be subject to the provisions of this act which simply means detention without trial when the authorities can use the judicial system instead,” he said after opening the state Gerakan convention here.

Koh said the judicial system was far more transparent in terms of the legal and social aspects as compared to the ISA. “When you detain someone under the ISA, it gives room for people to draw all kinds of conclusions and provides plenty of room for manipulation.

"Gerakan, for one, is against taking action against the Press as this is clearly against the freedom of expression which is provided for under the Federal Constitution,” he said.

Koh Tsu Koon said it was ironic that the “man who burnt down the house was still free, while the person who cried fire” had been detained.


Source: NST: Gerakan calls for ISA to be amended or abolished

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.

Source: The Malaysian Bar


Wanita MCA 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.

“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.

In IPOH, former MCA vice-president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek said there was no reason for Tan to be detained under the ISA.

”It has shocked society at large. People are disappointed and regret what has happened to the reporter when all she had done was report what (Bukit Bendera Umno division chief) Datuk Ahmad Ismail uttered.

”Perhaps, the police could have held her for questioning but to use the ISA on her, many feel the matter has gone overboard,” he said.

MCA Youth’s secretary-general Dr Wee Ka Siong strongly condemned the use of ISA on Tan. He said there was no justification for Tan’s detention under the ISA.

"We are disappointed as the person who made the remark was not arrested but the person who reported the matter was arrested,” Dr Wee said.

Party president Datuk Seri Ong Ka Ting said journalists were just carrying out their duties and should not be detained under the Act.

“We have principles and we are standing by it. We are drawing a clear line that the MCA is against the use of ISA on any journalists, more so in this case,” Ong said.


Source: The Star


Even brainless guys knows how to create stupid excuses. The man who created the polemic and fear - Khir Toyo, Ahmad Ismail and Utusan Malaysia - they were safe and sound asleep with their wives and children. Instead, Teresa Kok was accused of alleged sedition and she was arrested; Tan Hoon Cheng was reporting what she heard and was arrested under the ISA. Where is the rule of law and the rule of natural justice?

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