Next time a postman comes to bring a letter of bad news to you, shoot him. Next time a friend tells you that your stock in the stock market falls, slap him in the face. Next time a reporter reports a news that's displeasing to you, ISA him. Yes, let's shoot the messenger, shall we?
The arrest of Tan Hoon Cheng, a Sin Chew Daily reporter under Section 73 (1) ISA following Datuk Ahmad Bukit Bendera (DABB) statement of 'racial differences' was appalling. To those who did not follow, the arrest of Hoon Cheng was due to fact that 'her life was threatened'. When asked why not Hoon Cheng was asked to come to the police for questioning, Home Affairs Minister Syed Hamid Albar said that "it was always difficult when police had to deal with reporters". Well, i guess dealing with reporters are the same to dealing with DSAI, where he also had to be picked up by police at his house for questioning. To note, DABB was only 'summoned' to come to the police to record his statements, but he went missing for sometime. Not even Pak Lah could contact him then.
To some effect, Hoon Cheng should be proud that she was taken under ISA. She was the second only journalist to be taken under ISA after the late Tan Sri A Samad Ismail. Not even a single reporter was taken in during Ops Lallang 1987. While DABB? He got suspended for three years from UMNO. Probably just a 'jentik di telinga' compared to the draconian (*phew) ISA detention Hoon Cheng got. Yeah, she was released after less than 24 hours detained, but the damage was already done.
What was this? A play of intimidation game with the media. They are just merely reporting of what was said, but instead of the perpetrator got punished, the messenger was. To the BN govt, good luck in your effort to regain popularity. Lots of luck.
13 years ago
1 comment:
i always have this thinking that the goverment needs the media and vice versa...the arrest of Hoon Cheng under ISA does come as a suprise. for me she was only doing her job. yes, she was reporting a sensitive issue, an issue that could kucar-kacirkan the country. nevertheless, it was brought up by 'that idiot' (i think he's a arrogant politician).
nnt lama-kelamaan all this politician/goverment akan sentiasa cakap "we were misquoted" if something went sour due to their actions. i think all these are crap. it shows that ada lagi politicians yang racial bigots.
so, kepada mereka yg kena cover yb-yb, menteri etc tu, silalah berkawan baik dgn your tape recorders ek? (i dunno where mine went to.. :-P)
Hoon Cheng's arrest telah membuka mata everyone, esp the journos. but then again, her courage in facing it all patut dipuji.
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