Utusan dares Kok to take lie detector test

While sassy Teresa Kok was released to the joy and delight of DAP supporters and leaders and the Selangor menteri besar, her war against a local daily may have just begun.

For despite being released by the police after seven days of detention and questioning over her role in the petition for a mosque in Puchong to lower the volume of its morning sermons, her innocence is still in question.

That is, as far as Umno-owned Utusan Malaysia is concerned.

Barely two hours after her release at the Jalan Travers police station at 1pm, the Selangor state exco member came face to face with her accusers again.

At the press conference in DAP headquarters today, Kok was asked by an Utusan reporter if she was willing to take a lie detector test to convince Malaysians that she had no part in the azan controversy.

DAP parliamentary leader Lim Kit Siang leapt to his former political secretary's defence, questioning the questioner, "For what?".

"They (the police) released her already, proving that they were wrong. Isn't that enough?" said Lim.

Not to be outdone, Kok upped the ante, saying that the lie detector test should first be used on her accusers before they ask her to take the polygraph test.

Legal suits

On her part, the Seputeh MP and Kinrara assemblyperson has also vowed to follow through and obtain justice from the courts against the daily, its columnist Zaini Hassan and former Selangor MB Dr Khir Toyo.

Besides lodging a police report against them, Kok is also suing Utusan for RM30 million for libel and tarnishing her image. Not left out either is the government and the police for "unlawful arrest and detention".

In addition, Kota Raja MP Dr Siti Mariah Mahmud (PAS) has also lodged a report against Khir and a blog for their allegations.

Kok also said she was very angry with Khir and Utusan for causing her detention and highlighted the government's use of different standards in patrolling newspapers.

"I'm very angry. Whenever such issues arise, other papers get into trouble and are given show-cause letters.

"How come Utusan Malaysia has never received such letters from the Internal Security or Home Ministry?" she asked.

Public inquiry

Lim jumped into the fray, demanding for a public inquiry on how the detentions took place.

"We should find out how the ISA was invoked and disciplinary action (including sacking) should be done to those responsible."

"You don't use the ISA as a fishing expedition just as it should not be used to protect citizens," Lim said to laughter in the room.

He also alleged the MCA played a part in her detention.

"Teresa's arrests was based on a report lodged a day before she was detained. The report on the azan issue was made by a key MCA operative in Puchong.

"Although, the MCA central working committee has taken the position that Teresa should not be detained under the ISA and be charged in court if there is evidence, it is time they explain why one of their operatives filed the report."

The report, he alleged, was the trigger for Kok's arrest. Lim said they received the report after the her detention.