KUALA LUMPUR: Sin Chew Daily journalist Tan Hoon Cheng who was arrested under the Internal Security Act (ISA) yesterday was released from the Federal Police Headquarters (Bukit Aman) here at about 2.30pm yesterday.

Home Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar confirmed the 33-year-old woman’s release at a press conference at Bukit Aman.

It is learnt that she was taken to Bukit Aman following her arrest at 8.30 pm in Penang Friday.

Syed Hamid said Tan’s detention under the ISA was part of the police’s swift action to ensure her safety after she received threatening calls.

He said police intelligence found the journalist’s life to be under threat after she reported about an Umno division leader’s allegedly racist remarks.

“She was the first one to publish a report on the alleged racist remarks by Bukit Bendera Umno chief Ahmad Ismail, so we have to get to the bottom of the issue.

“We don’t want anything to happen to the journalist as her life was under threat,” he told a packed press conference yesterday.

Syed Hamid also said Malaysia Today’s editor Raja Petra Kamaruddin was arrested after the police found that the 58-year-old editor’s articles contained inflammatory contents.

He said Raja Petra was advised and warned many times to stop publishing such articles, but was ignored.

“Teresa Kok’s arrest took place because of her very sensitive comments about the azan (call of prayer). We must not interfere in any religion’s rituals or religious practices,” he said.

Malaysia is a multi-racial country and the good relationship between all ethnics should not be fragiled.

“Police have handled the arrest professionally and it was necessary for them to take such action.

“Teresa Kok’s arrest took place because of her very sensitive comment over the mosque where she asked to stop the azan in morning.

“We must not interfere in any religion’s ritual or religious practices. This would create tension among people,” he said.

The police would continue their probe against Raja Petra and Teresa Kok and if there was no reason to hold any of them, the police would release the particular person within the 60 day detention period allowed (under the ISA), he added.

He said the police would not compromise with any party who try to jeopardise public order and stressed that unity is was paramount among Malaysians.

Meanwhile when asked whether Ahmad Ismail would be arrested under the ISA for his alleged racist remarks when campaigning during the Permatang Pauh by-election last month, Syed Hamid said: “Ahmad Ismail as a Umno party member was suspended for three years for his statement. He has been punished as party member.

“As to police reports lodged over his remarks, an investigation is underway,” he added.

He also rubbished a question from the media, that a state of emergency would be declared following the arrests.

“Malaysia is a peaceful country and the police have taken measures to ensure everything is in order. So I don’t see an emergency situation here. We are Malaysians, that is important,” he said.

He also added that the arrests was not linked to Parti Keadilan Rakyat advisor Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s plan to topple the government on Sept 16.

“Sept 16 is a political move and it’s nothing to do with the current arrests. There is no logic to it,” he said.

— Bernama