I refer to the accounts of Tan Hoon Cheng, the Sin Chew Daily journalist arrested under ISA. Read it here - My 18 Hours Under ISA.
Over the past years, we have always criticized the Police force for being corrupt, cruel and unprofessional. However, Tan's testimony showed us that the Police agents are professional in their duties.
In every event, there are always two sides. Some might say that the ISA arrests were improper, unnecessary and cruel. And there are quarters who blame the Home Ministry and the Government although Datuk Seri Syed Hamid publicly denied that the Government is involved.
Datuk Seri Syed Hamid said that he did not interfere with the police force because he is a politician and if he interfered, it will be seen as a political move. So the attention should be focused on the IGP and Deputy IGP of Malaysia on why Bukit Aman ordered the arrest of Tan.
Whether or not the Government is involved, we wont be certain. Datuk Seri Syed Hamid said the Government and particularly he himself was not involved. But Datuk Zaid Ibrahim, Datuk Seri Dr Fong Chan Onn and various other politicians are criticizing the Government for the ISA arrests.
The Police or the Government? We can only wonder. Technically, it was the Police who arrested the trio on their own, without orders from the Home Minister.
Remember that they were arrested under Section 73 of the ISA that states :
Section 73(1) Internal Security Act 1960: "Any police officer may without warrant arrest and detain pending enquiries any person in respect of whom he has reason to believe that there are grounds which would justify his detention under section 8; and that he has acted or is about to act or is likely to act in any manner prejudicial to the security of Malaysia or any part thereof or to maintenance of essential services therein or to the economic life thereof."
Whatever the case is, the PDRM handled Tan's arrest professionally and provided her with the basic necessities. I can see that the PDRM agents were lenient and very nice to Tan.
From Tan's writing :
...... I requested the female officer to keep the lights on. She told me not to worry, she will not switch off the lights. The police also informed me that I would be meeting my parents tomorrow morning at eight.......
...... At 6 o’clock in the next morning, when I was about to wash up, the female officer passed me the clothing brought by my parents. I was surprised; everything was new, the toiletries, t-shirts, shorts, panties. ......
In the past, when Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim was arrested under the ISA or for the 2nd sodomy charge, the commando unit of PDRM was used. Well, it would have been a big joke if the PDRM failed in their attempt to arrest anyone be it a politician or a normal citizen. Moreover, to arrest Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, the police had to consider the arrest and also the safety of the detainee when making the arrest.
Thus, after countless times of getting slammed by the public, the PDRM deserves a pat in the back too for their professionalism. Let us all be fair even to the PDRM !
Over the past years, we have always criticized the Police force for being corrupt, cruel and unprofessional. However, Tan's testimony showed us that the Police agents are professional in their duties.
In every event, there are always two sides. Some might say that the ISA arrests were improper, unnecessary and cruel. And there are quarters who blame the Home Ministry and the Government although Datuk Seri Syed Hamid publicly denied that the Government is involved.
Datuk Seri Syed Hamid said that he did not interfere with the police force because he is a politician and if he interfered, it will be seen as a political move. So the attention should be focused on the IGP and Deputy IGP of Malaysia on why Bukit Aman ordered the arrest of Tan.
Whether or not the Government is involved, we wont be certain. Datuk Seri Syed Hamid said the Government and particularly he himself was not involved. But Datuk Zaid Ibrahim, Datuk Seri Dr Fong Chan Onn and various other politicians are criticizing the Government for the ISA arrests.
The Police or the Government? We can only wonder. Technically, it was the Police who arrested the trio on their own, without orders from the Home Minister.
Remember that they were arrested under Section 73 of the ISA that states :
Section 73(1) Internal Security Act 1960: "Any police officer may without warrant arrest and detain pending enquiries any person in respect of whom he has reason to believe that there are grounds which would justify his detention under section 8; and that he has acted or is about to act or is likely to act in any manner prejudicial to the security of Malaysia or any part thereof or to maintenance of essential services therein or to the economic life thereof."
Whatever the case is, the PDRM handled Tan's arrest professionally and provided her with the basic necessities. I can see that the PDRM agents were lenient and very nice to Tan.
From Tan's writing :
...... I requested the female officer to keep the lights on. She told me not to worry, she will not switch off the lights. The police also informed me that I would be meeting my parents tomorrow morning at eight.......
...... At 6 o’clock in the next morning, when I was about to wash up, the female officer passed me the clothing brought by my parents. I was surprised; everything was new, the toiletries, t-shirts, shorts, panties. ......
In the past, when Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim was arrested under the ISA or for the 2nd sodomy charge, the commando unit of PDRM was used. Well, it would have been a big joke if the PDRM failed in their attempt to arrest anyone be it a politician or a normal citizen. Moreover, to arrest Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, the police had to consider the arrest and also the safety of the detainee when making the arrest.
Thus, after countless times of getting slammed by the public, the PDRM deserves a pat in the back too for their professionalism. Let us all be fair even to the PDRM !
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