Steven Sim

3.00 AM – Just came back from urgent meeting at CM’s house in Penang…

Press Conference outside the Perda Police HQ Gate

I received the news of Ms. Tan Hoon Cheng’s arrest about 9.00 PM yesterday from CM’s political secretary while coming back from a dinner. JR and I immediately rushed to the district police HQ to check on the situation. We were one of the first to arrive with some other journalists and YB Michael (PR-DAP Padang Lallang) and newly elected Penang MCA Youth chief Ong Sia Boon. We asked for confirmation of the arrest and the police officers on duty could only inform us that Tan was indeed held at the police station. No other details or status was given and we were told to wait when asked if we can see her.

About 9.30 PM, a crowd has already gathered outside the police station gate. However they, including the YBs and journalists, were not allowed in by the guards on duty who said they received orders from “higher authority”. There was a small commotion when some of our comrades tried to get a member of the Penang State EXCO YB Lydia Ong (PR-DAP Berapit) into the police station. I called the CPO but he didn’t answer the phone. I called the OCPD and he said he couldn’t make any decision and had to check with the “higher authority”. Finally they relented but only allowed all the YBs into the police station. YB Lydia Ong however stood to her ground and insisted she would only go in if the journalists were allowed to go in.

By about 11pm Tan was transferred to the Penang State Police HQ. We managed to catch a glimpse of Tan…she smiled and was composed and looked calm. But we noticed her teary eyes…sigh. After that, we rushed for a quick supper (most of them didn’t finished their dinner to rushed to the police station earlier) and followed YB Chong Eng to the State Police HQ to show solidarity with Tan. Outside the HQ (we were not allowed into the HQ compound) YB led the crowd to sing “Peng Yu” (Mandarin, “Friend”), a popular chinese song to let Ms. Tan who was held inside the State Police HQ building know that we, her friends are with her.

Clapping and singing to show our support to Tan

And YB also lighted four candles when arrived at the State Police HQ, one each for RPK, for YB Teresa and for Tan, all ISA detainees held within the span of one day. And one more for Ahmad Ismail…who was rumoured to have been ordered arrest as well.

If UMNO-Barisan Nasional has shown us the worst of politics and morality, the Rakyat of Malaysia has shown what we can do in our best moments…It was a night where Malaysians of all race and religion came out to defend what is Right and Just. There were Malays Malaysians, Chinese Malaysians and Indian Malaysians together with other Malaysians. This was not a racial issue. We were all united against the tyranny of UMNO-BN.

And a few interesting observations, the police were noticeably kinder and they allowed the protesters and well wishers to gather as long as they wanted outside of the police stations. Most of the police officers were helpful and showed a genuine helplessness that their hands were tied in this matters – Everything was “Bukit Aman yang handle” (”handled by Bukit Aman – Main Police HQ). A few MCA and Gerakan members were supporting this cause together with us. I call upon all conscientious Barisan Nasional component parties, it is your national duty no less to reject UMNO and its atrocity and join with us, the Pakatan Rakyat – PKR, PAS, DAP – to reject UMNO, reject communal racism and to rebuild a better Malaysia.

Finally,

We want to insist that this is NOT a racial issue, but it is about Justice for ALL Malaysians. Tonight, Malay Malaysians stood with Chinese Malaysians and Indian Malaysians in protest of the atrocity by the UMNO-led Barisan Nasional Government, especially the Prime Minister and the Home Minister who had approved the use of the unjust draconian ISA on innocent citizens Raja Petra, on journalist Tan and on a parliamentarian and a state minister YB Teresa Kok. Let us unite together and reject evil with goodness and love.

Kita nak ingatkan bahawa ini BUKAN isu perkauman, tetapi isu Keadilan untuk Semua. Pada malam ini, orang-orang Melayu berdiri bersama dengan orang-orang Cina dan Indian untuk membantah kekejaman Kerajaan BN pimpinan UMNO dan juga membantah tindakan Perdana Menteri dan Menteri Dalam Negeri yang menggunakan undang-undang tidak adil ISA ke atas Rakyat yang tidak bersalah seperti Raja Petra, seorang wartawan Tan dan seorang ahli Parliamen serta Ahli EXCO Selangor Teresa Kok. Biar kita bersatu padu untuk melawan kejahatan dengan kebaikan dan kasih sayang.

Amal makruh nahi mungkar!

Reject evil and falsehood!!

Say No To ISA!

Release Petra, Tan and Teresa!