Press Statement by Teresa Kok in Petaling Jaya on
Friday, 19th September 2008:
My ISA detention is without any
legal or moral basis. It is a clear abuse of detention without trial
I have been released after being
detained in solitary confinement in a 6 by 8 holding cell for seven days
under the Internal Security Act (ISA). I was informed by the police that
they detained me under Sec 73(1) of Internal Security Act 1960, which
means I have incited racial and religious tension and conflict.
After being detained for seven days
under the guise of so-called investigations, the police failed to
produce any evidence or proof of me being involved in the activities of
causing racial and religious tension. They were only able to ask me few
questions based entirely on the false and malicious article written by
Zaini Hassan under the topic "Azan, jawi, JAIS, Uitm dan ba-alif-ba-ya"
that was published in Utusan Malaysia on 10th September 2008.
The three main questions that the investigation officers asked me were:
i) whether I have mobilized a
group of residents at Bandar Kinrara to present a petition to oppose
to the azan at the Bandar Kinrara mosque;
ii) whether I have made a statement that 30% of the Selangor Islamic
Department (JAIS) allocation is to be given to other non-Islam
religious bodies; and
iii) whether I have opposed to the Jawi wording road signages in
Kuala Lumpur.
I denied the first two accusations as
I did not do any such things as accused. I also told them that the issue
of opposing Jawi road signages in Kuala Lumpur were done in
January/February 2008 at the request and following the pressure of
resident associations. The resident associations , particularly in Taman
Seputeh, were most unhappy because many of the road signages were
changed arbitrarily by DBKL a few month before and changed again soon
after this time with Jawi wordings. They were strongly opposed to this
kind of wastage of public funds by DBKL.
I was quite surprised that there were no other questions posed to me
besides these few main questions.
The Internal Security Act (ISA) is meant to detain people who threaten
national security. The three issues stated above have nothing to do with
national security. If the police wanted to carry out investigation on
me, they can always ask me to give statements in any of the police
station and there was absolutely no need to detain me under the ISA for
seven days. This is a phenomenal abuse of the power of police under the
ISA.
Besides, it is nonsensical for the police to detain me under the ISA
merely based on the unsubstantiated article written by an irresponsible
columnist in Utusan Malaysia? How can they regard that article as the
gospel truth without investigating the writer in the first place? How
can Utusan Malaysia publish it without verifying the facts?
I wish to ask the police whether they have called Zaini Hassan and
Utusan Malaysia's editors for questioning before and after my detention.
I know that the imam of Bandar Kinrara mosque has publicly denied that I
got involved in the Puchong residents petition against azan of his
mosque on 13th September. I am also quite surprised to read in the New
Straits Times dated 19th Sep that the official of the Bandar Kinrara
mosque was called by the Dang Wangi police for statement recording only
yesterday afternoon. Why did the police do it so late, one week after I
was arrested? Why didn't they check their facts first before they arrest
me and put me behind bars?
I have been made scapegoat in the internal squabbles of UMNO
I see my detention as a ploy by UMNO to try to cover up the
embarrassment and the outrage of the racist statements made by Ahmad
Ismail in Penang. I wonder why did they choose an innocent person like
me as I have never made any racist statements or racist speeches in the
past?
I have lodged the police report on 17th September 2008 against Utusan
Malaysia, Zaini Hassan and Dr Khir Toyo for criminal defamation. I would
therefore urge the police to investigate Utusan Malaysia' s editors,
those racist bloggers and Dr Khir Toyo under the Penal Code.
As I have mentioned in my previous lawyer's visit, I will sue Utusan
Malaysia, Zaini Hassan and Dr Khir Toyo. I have also instructed my
lawyers to sue the Malaysian government for my unlawful arrest and
detention.
Raja Petra should be released
As I am free from ISA detention today, I also call for the release of
Raja Petra, the Hindraf Five and all other 60 over detainees under the
draconian ISA.
I would also like to thank all politicians in the ruling parties as well
as in the Pakatan Rakyat, NGOs, churches and all social organizations
who have campaigned and prayed for my release.
* Teresa Kok, MP for Seputeh, Senior Exco for Selangor
State Government and ADUN for Kinrara
http://dapmalaysia.org