Press Statement by YB Teresa Kok

19-09-2008: Teresa Kok's statement after her release from ISA detention

Press Statement by YB Teresa Kok, Member of Parliament for Seputeh,
Senior Exco for Selangor State Government and
ADUN for Kinrara on 19th September 2008 at
Petaling Jaya, after her release from ISA detention



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 Sept 10, 2008.

The three main questions that the investigation officers asked me were:

(1) whether I have mobilised a group of residents at Bandar Kinrara to present a petition to oppose the azan at the Bandar Kinrara mosque on Sept 13;
(2) whether I have made a statement that 30% of the Selangor Islamic Department (JAIS) allocation is to be given to other non-Islamic religious bodies; and
(3)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 road signages in Jawi 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 months 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 stations. 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 the Bandar Kinrara mosque has publicly denied that I had gotten involved in the Puchong residents' petition against the azan of his mosque on Sept 13.

I am also quite surprised to read in the New Straits Times dated Sept 19 that the official of the Bandar Kinrara mosque was called by the Dang Wangi police to record his statement only yesterday (Sept 18) 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 arrested me and put me behind bars?

I have been made a scapegoat due to 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 Sept 17, 2008, against Utusan Malaysia , Zaini Hassan and Datuk Seri Dr Mohamad 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 Kamaruddin should be released.

As I am freed from ISA detention today, I also call for the release of Raja Petra, the Hindraf Five and all the other 60-plus 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 organisations who have campaigned and prayed for my release.


Teresa Kok
Member of Parliament for Seputeh, Senior Exco for Selangor State Government and ADUN for Kinrara
Sept 19, 2008