The police must explain the rationale behind the detention of Sin Chew Daily journalist Tan Hoon Cheng under the Internal Security Act (ISA), said Information Minister Ahmad Shabery Cheek.

ahmad shabery cheek According to Bernama , he said it would be better if the police explained the detention of Tan, instead of politicians giving their reasons.

He told this to reporters after attending a lantern carnival in Kuala Lumpur last night. Also present was his deputy, Tan Lian Hoe.

Shabery was responding to Home Minister Syed Hamid Albar’s statement that Tan's detention was part of the police's swift action to ensure her safety after she received threatening calls.

Syed Hamid said police intelligence found the journalist's life to be under threat after she reported about suspended Bukit Bendera Umno chief Ahmad Ismail's alleged racist remarks made during campaigning for the Permatang Pauh by-election last month.

Tan was released from the Penang police headquarters at about 2.30pm yesterday.

Shabery, who expressed gratefulness over the release of Tan, said the action clearly reflected that ISA detention was not a long-term punishment and was only to deter people from making statements that could jeopardise national security.

Tan’s report pertaining to the derogatory remarks made by Ahmad against the Chinese community, sparked off a national uproar culminating in the Umno leader being slapped with a three-year suspension.

Apart from Tan, the police also detained controversial blogger Raja Petra Kamaruddin and DAP MP Teresa Kok under the ISA.

The arrests had received widespread condemnation from various quarters.