http://www.straitstimes.com/Breaking+News/SE+Asia/Story/STIStory_278102.html
Sep 13, 2008
KL nabs 3 in ISA crackdown
Those detained are blogger Raja Petra; a Sin Chew journalist; and a DAP politician
By Carolyn Hong, Malaysia Bureau Chief
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR vAlign=bottom><TD width=330>
</TD><TD width=10>
</TD><TD vAlign=bottom>
PHOTO: AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
KUALA LUMPUR: MALAYSIA yesterday embarked on a crackdown, arresting controversial blogger Raja Petra Kamaruddin and a journalist from the mass-selling Chinese-language Sin Chew Daily, Ms Tan Hoon Cheng, under the Internal Security Act.
The Star newspaper late last night reported that an MP from the opposition Democratic Action Party, Ms Teresa Kok, had also been detained under the ISA, which allows for detention without trial.
Separately, warning letters were issued to three newspapers including the Chinese daily.
The tough action comes after a series of warnings by the government on the heightening racial rhetoric following a heated spat last week over an Umno politician calling the Chinese 'squatters and immigrants'.
It comes just ahead of a self-declared Tuesday deadline by opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim to topple the Barisan Nasional government.
His Parti Keadilan Rakyat called it a possible prelude to a crackdown which Datuk Seri Anwar said was aimed at the political opposition.
He said: 'Invoking the Internal Security Act just days before Sept 16th is clearly an attempt to engineer an atmosphere of fear and instability that would justify the government's heavy-handed tactics against those aligned with the political opposition.'
However, Home Minister Syed Hamid Albar dismissed allegations that yesterday's move was related to the opposition leader's plan to seize the government.
'Don't relate this to that. Sept 16 is Anwar's imagination. This has to do with our country's interests,' he told The Straits Times.
Minister in the Prime Minister's Office, Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, said Raja Petra's arrest should serve as a warning to 'irresponsible bloggers'.
Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi himself told reporters that the government would not have acted unless it was convinced of the threat to security and public order.
But observers are already reading the tough stance as Datuk Seri Abdullah sending a signal that he is ready to use stern measures after being repeatedly criticised as a weak leader.
His leadership has come under harsh criticism within his Umno party in the face of the constant sabre-rattling by Mr Anwar, who returned to Parliament last month.
The Premier came under further pressure after his deputy Najib Razak yesterday signalled a shift away from his earlier acceptance of a plan for Mr Abdullah to hand over power only in 2010.
Datuk Seri Syed Hamid said Raja Petra, 58, was arrested under a provision of the Internal Security Act that allows the police to hold a person on grounds of national security for up to 60 days. The police may later recommend a two-year detention to the Home Minister.
'It's up to the police. He has been given many reminders over his articles that can create conflict and public disorder. It's not over one specific act,' he said.
The blogger is also facing a string of charges over his postings which linked Datuk Seri Najib to the murder of a Mongolian woman. Last week, the Islamic authorities lodged a report over his articles deemed insulting to Islam.
His Malaysia Today website was earlier shut down by the government but has since been restored.
Ms Tan, 33, who was picked up last night at her home in Bukit Mertajam, was responsible for the controversial report on the remarks by an Umno official, Mr Ahmad Ismail, which triggered an outcry, particularly among the Chinese.
Mr Ahmad, during the heated by-election election recently in Permatang Pauh, had referred to Chinese as 'immigrants and squatters'. He refused to apologise later, insisting that his remarks were made in a historical context.
On Wednesday, the Home Ministry issued show-cause letters to the English daily The Sun, the Sin Chew Daily, and to Suara Keadilan - the newspaper of Mr Anwar's Parti Keadilan Rakyat.
They have a week to reply, and may lose their publishing permits or face other action such as suspension.
'We are giving them an opportunity to explain. What is most important is the unity of the country,' Mr Syed Hamid said.
The Sun was asked to show-cause over unspecified articles on sensitive issues, while Sin Chew Daily's notice was over its report on the Umno politician's comment on the Chinese.
Suara Keadilan got into trouble for reporting that police chief Musa Hassan was paralysed after heart surgery.
[email protected]
More reports World Pages C8-C9
Sep 13, 2008
KL nabs 3 in ISA crackdown
Those detained are blogger Raja Petra; a Sin Chew journalist; and a DAP politician
By Carolyn Hong, Malaysia Bureau Chief
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR vAlign=bottom><TD width=330>
</TD><TD width=10>
PHOTO: AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
KUALA LUMPUR: MALAYSIA yesterday embarked on a crackdown, arresting controversial blogger Raja Petra Kamaruddin and a journalist from the mass-selling Chinese-language Sin Chew Daily, Ms Tan Hoon Cheng, under the Internal Security Act.
The Star newspaper late last night reported that an MP from the opposition Democratic Action Party, Ms Teresa Kok, had also been detained under the ISA, which allows for detention without trial.
Separately, warning letters were issued to three newspapers including the Chinese daily.
The tough action comes after a series of warnings by the government on the heightening racial rhetoric following a heated spat last week over an Umno politician calling the Chinese 'squatters and immigrants'.
It comes just ahead of a self-declared Tuesday deadline by opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim to topple the Barisan Nasional government.
His Parti Keadilan Rakyat called it a possible prelude to a crackdown which Datuk Seri Anwar said was aimed at the political opposition.
He said: 'Invoking the Internal Security Act just days before Sept 16th is clearly an attempt to engineer an atmosphere of fear and instability that would justify the government's heavy-handed tactics against those aligned with the political opposition.'
However, Home Minister Syed Hamid Albar dismissed allegations that yesterday's move was related to the opposition leader's plan to seize the government.
'Don't relate this to that. Sept 16 is Anwar's imagination. This has to do with our country's interests,' he told The Straits Times.
Minister in the Prime Minister's Office, Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, said Raja Petra's arrest should serve as a warning to 'irresponsible bloggers'.
Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi himself told reporters that the government would not have acted unless it was convinced of the threat to security and public order.
But observers are already reading the tough stance as Datuk Seri Abdullah sending a signal that he is ready to use stern measures after being repeatedly criticised as a weak leader.
His leadership has come under harsh criticism within his Umno party in the face of the constant sabre-rattling by Mr Anwar, who returned to Parliament last month.
The Premier came under further pressure after his deputy Najib Razak yesterday signalled a shift away from his earlier acceptance of a plan for Mr Abdullah to hand over power only in 2010.
Datuk Seri Syed Hamid said Raja Petra, 58, was arrested under a provision of the Internal Security Act that allows the police to hold a person on grounds of national security for up to 60 days. The police may later recommend a two-year detention to the Home Minister.
'It's up to the police. He has been given many reminders over his articles that can create conflict and public disorder. It's not over one specific act,' he said.
The blogger is also facing a string of charges over his postings which linked Datuk Seri Najib to the murder of a Mongolian woman. Last week, the Islamic authorities lodged a report over his articles deemed insulting to Islam.
His Malaysia Today website was earlier shut down by the government but has since been restored.
Ms Tan, 33, who was picked up last night at her home in Bukit Mertajam, was responsible for the controversial report on the remarks by an Umno official, Mr Ahmad Ismail, which triggered an outcry, particularly among the Chinese.
Mr Ahmad, during the heated by-election election recently in Permatang Pauh, had referred to Chinese as 'immigrants and squatters'. He refused to apologise later, insisting that his remarks were made in a historical context.
On Wednesday, the Home Ministry issued show-cause letters to the English daily The Sun, the Sin Chew Daily, and to Suara Keadilan - the newspaper of Mr Anwar's Parti Keadilan Rakyat.
They have a week to reply, and may lose their publishing permits or face other action such as suspension.
'We are giving them an opportunity to explain. What is most important is the unity of the country,' Mr Syed Hamid said.
The Sun was asked to show-cause over unspecified articles on sensitive issues, while Sin Chew Daily's notice was over its report on the Umno politician's comment on the Chinese.
Suara Keadilan got into trouble for reporting that police chief Musa Hassan was paralysed after heart surgery.
[email protected]
More reports World Pages C8-C9
