National Union of Journalists (NUJ) president Norila Mohd Daud today blasted the arrest of Sin Chew Daily journalist Tan Hoon Cheng under the Internal Security Act as unfair and called for her immediate release.

Speaking to a press conference held at the police headquarters Bukit Aman this noon, the NUJ president said there was no need to detain Tan under ISA.

nuj to bukit aman police hq 130908 norila daud "If the authorities feel that Tan has committed an offence, she should be charged under normal criminal laws and be tried and not be detained under the ISA," lamented Norila.

Norila also said that action should be taken against suspended Bukit Bendera Umno division chief Ahmad Ismail instead for his racial remarks and not against the Sin Chew journalist.

"Its unfair. It was Ahmad that made the racial remarks and not Tan. She merely did a write up on what had transpired. They should charge Ahmad instead," said Norila.

tan hoon cheng 01 120908 Tan, 33, was detained in Bukit Mertajam last night as part of a nationwide ISA dragnet. She is currently being held at the federal police headquarters in Bukit Aman, Kuala Lumpur.

The Sin Chew reporter ( photo ) was the person who reported Ahmad as having called the Chinese community in Malaysia as ‘squatters' at one of his campaigning speech for the Permatang Pauh by-election recently.

Following strong protests from other BN component parties that stern action be taken against Ahmad, the Umno supreme council subsequently handed him a three year suspension punishment.

He was also stripped of his party post, a post he helmed for two decades, and have been banned from attending Umno general assemblies.

Protest letter to be sent to PM and King

Norila along three other NUJ office bearers were at Bukit Aman to meet with high ranking police officers to urge that Tan be released but was denied any access.

nuj to bukit aman police hq 130908 sin chew daily "A public relations officer came to meet us instead and told us that we cannot have a meeting with them but informed us that we can express our concerns at the Home Minister Syed Hamid Albar later this evening," added Norila.

Syed Hamid is expected to announce the possible release of Tan from ISA at a press conference to be held in Bukit Aman later this evening.

Norila then said that the union will be sending a protest letter against the arrest of under the ISA to the king and prime minister next week.