Perak State Assembly Meets Under A Tree - Bernama

IPOH, March 3 (Bernama) -- Perak state assembly Speaker V. Sivakumar and 27 opposition assemblymen convened an "emergency session" under a tree, about 100m from the state assembly building here, today.

The session was held under a tree at 10.20am after the group was barred by police from entering the Perak Darul Ridzuan building, which houses the state assembly, because it did not have the consent of the Sultan of Perak, Sultan Azlan Shah.

It was adjourned 25 minutes later after approving three motions.

Earlier, a scuffle occurred when the opposition members tried to enter the building grounds to attend the emergency session in the building.

Police only allowed Sivakumar into the building at about 9.45am and members of the public, including the media, were told to disperse.

Ipoh OCPD ACP Azisman Alias issued a warning to arrest anyone, including elected representatives, who refused to disperse.

[More at http://www.bernama.com.my/bernama/state_news/news.php?id=393586&cat=nt]

Protesters mar swearing-in of new MB - NST

By : Jaspal Singh

KUALA KANGSAR: The scenic peace of Bukit Chandan, with the glorious and majestic Ubudiah Mosque as its famous backdrop, was shattered when tear gas was fired at demonstrators who had gathered to protest the swearing-in of the new menteri besar from Barisan Nasional.

Tearing and choking, the 3,000-strong crowd held its ground for about 40 minutes despite the volleys of tear gas fired by riot police.

At least six Federal Reserve Unit buses and trucks with around 100 fully-geared personnel were sent to Bukit Chandan after police received information that thousands of people would be protesting Sultan Azlan Shah's decision to allow BN to form the state government in Perak.

Protesters, both locals and outsiders, had earlier gathered at the Ubudiah Mosque to perform their Friday prayers.

The mosque was chosen as the gathering point due to its proximity to Istana Iskandariah, the venue for the swearing-in of Pangkor state assemblyman Datuk Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir as the new menteri besar.

According to witnesses who spoke to the New Straits Times, the protesters began chanting religious slogans as they walked towards the palace a little after 2pm, carrying placards and banners. As they marched towards the palace, FRU personnel shot the first round of tear gas and succeeded in pushing them back to the mosque grounds.

[More at http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/Saturday/Frontpage/2473319/Article/index_html]

Perak MB sworn in as protest raged - The Sun

KUALA KANGSAR (Feb 6, 2009): Barisan Nasional (BN) officially took over the Perak state administration today with Pangkor assemblyman Datuk Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir sworn in as the new Menteri Besar on an afternoon that saw Pakatan Rakyat supporters staging a protest rally marked by tear gas and stones throwing.

The swearing-in ceremony took place before the Sultan of Perak, Sultan Azlan Shah, at Istana Iskandariah in Bukit Chandan here, amid the former Pakatan Rakyat (PR) government's refusal to accept that the manner in which they were kick out of office.

All 28 PR assemblymen boycotted the ceremony, with their supporters staging a demonstration outside the Ubudiah Mosque, just 300 metres from the palace. Some among the crowd were seen hurling sticks and bottles at policemen and vehicles passing through the Jalan Istana, Bernama reported.

Zambry's appointment effectively ended Perak's political impasse, with the PR government losing its majority in the state legislative assembly when four of its assemblymen quit the coalition three days ago, to become "BN-friendly independents".

Yesterday, the Sultan of Perak decided not to grant consent to the PR government's request to dissolve the state legislative assembly, and instead ordered Menteri Besar Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin and his executive council to step down immediately.

The sultan ruled that if Mohammad Nizar and his executive council refused to do so, the posts of Menteri Besar and executive councillors would be regarded as vacant. Nizar has since defied the order and insisted he is still the legal mentri besar until the assembly decides otherwise.

[More at http://sun2surf.com/article.cfm?id=29896]

The Sun Front Page (5/2)

Publish at Scribd or explore others: Magazines Periodicals & Report Malaysia

300,000 COPIES DAILY 30 SEN for delivery to your doorstep Member of Audit Bureau of Circulations (Malaysia) Award winning newspaper for public service reporting and opinion writing. No. 4691 PP 2644/12/2009 (023092) Thursday February 5, 2009 TELLING IT AS IT IS www.sun2surf.com BERNAMAPIX Dogged by objections » Ong and Chua pals again pg4 » Breast cancer: Rising fear factor pg12-13 INTERVIEWS VIEWS pg20 POLITICAL TURMOIL IN PERAK Jan 25: Umno’s Bota assemblyman Nasarudin Hashim joins PKR. Jan 28: PKR assemblymen and state executive councillors Mohd Osman Mohd Jailu (Changkat Jering) and Jamaluddin Mohd Radzi (Behrang) go missing. Feb 1: DAP’s Jelapang assemblyman and State Assembly Deputy Speaker Hee Yit Foong “disappears”. Support for BN ... Perak govt falls by Maria J. Dass newdesk@thesundaily.com Najib with (from left) Nasarudin, Mohd Osman, Hee and Jamaluddin at his office in Putrajaya yesterday after announcing that the BN had the mandate to form the next Perak state government. Monday: State Assembly Speaker V. Sivakumar informs Perak Election Commission that Changkat Jering and Behrang are vacant and submits Osman and Jamaluddin’s resignation letters. Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin has a 30-minute audience with Sultan Azlan Shah. Tuesday: Election Commission rules that Osman and Jamaluddin remain as elected representatives because of doubts over their resignation letters. UTRAJAYA: Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak yesterday announced that Barisan Nasional now has the mandate to take over the Perak government from Pakatan Rakyat (PR), with the return of Bota assemblyman Datuk Nasarudin Hashim to Umno and the support of three former PR assemblymen who quit their parties to become independents. Speaking at a short press conference at his office, he said: “BN Perak has the majority assemblymen in the state when three assemblymen, Jamaluddin Mohd Radzi (Behrang), Kapt Mohd Osman Mohd Jailu (Changkat Jering) and Hee Yit Foong (Jelapang) informed me that they have each sent letters to Sultan of Perak Sultan Azlan Shah to inform him they have left their respective parties.” Jamaluddin and Osman won their seats on Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) tickets while Hee won Jelapang as a DAP candidate and made history as the first woman deputy state legislative speaker. “Today (Tuesday) Bota assemblyman Datuk Nasarudin Hashim P » NAJIB: BN HAS MANDATE TO FORM GOVT » BOTA REP RETURNS TO UMNO » TWO EXCO MEN QUIT PKR TO BE INDEPENDENTS » DEPUTY SPEAKER HEE QUITS DAP TO BE INDEPENDENT » ALL TO BACK BN also met me to say that he wants to rejoin Umno,” Najib said. All four assemblymen were with Najib at the press conference. Nasarudin had defected to PKR on Jan 25, causing a furore in Perak Umno that ended with Najib taking over as state Umno liaison and BN chief from former mentri besar Datuk Seri Tajol Rosli. This means the BN and PR both have 28 seats. Asked how this would work out as both have an equal number of seats in the 59seat assembly, he said: “The three independents have pledged their support for the BN; so we have 31 seats against 28.” Najib denied that the three assemblymen were bought over. “The trio (Jamaluddin, Hee and Osman) have also given me the mandate to nominate the new mentri besar,” he said. All four assemblymen (including Nasarudin) have informed the state assembly Speaker V. Sivakumar that they are no longer members of the respective parties. Asked why BN was willing to be associated with Jamaluddin and Osman who have been tainted by corruption charges, Najib replied: “We have no problem, that is a separate issue.” He said Perak law stated that a mentri besar who had lost the confidence of the majority had to relinquish his position together with his executive council members. “We will be meeting the Sultan to inform him that BN now has the majority.” Asked what would happen if the Sultan dissolved the assembly to allow fresh elections as requested by the PR government yesterday, Najib said: “That is entirely the prerogative of the Sultan.” Speaking of the PR, he said: “They probably did not expect this, but they wanted to form the government without following the due democratic process – so don’t blame the BN. “Everything is the will of God, we are thankful for this. We did not start this, but somebody wanted to form the government on Sept 16,” he said, alluding to Anwar’s much-hyped boast to take over the federal government. On a statement by mentri besar Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin that Nasarudin’s wife had claimed that her husband had been “kidnapped”, both Najib and Nasarudin denied the claim. Nasarudin said: “With consciousness and a sense of responsibility, I have rejoined Umno and BN as of today. This is after listening to views and advice from political friends and individuals who want to see stability and a strong government in Perak. The present tumultuous political climate in the state has resulted in a weak government. I have also taken into account and respect the voters of Bota and democratic principles.” Yesterday Morning: Hee quits DAP to become an Independent assemblyman. Afternoon: PKR’s new representative Nasarudin now goes missing. 4pm: Nizar heads to Istana Kinta to have an audience with Sultan Azlan Shah. 4.30pm: Jamaluddin, Osman and Hee are seen in Deputy Prime Minister and Perak Barisan Nasional (BN) chief Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak’s office in Putrajaya. 5.10pm: Najib announces that the BN has the support of the four former PR assemblymen – three “BN-friendly” Independents and Nasarudin rejoining Umno. Najib says he will seek an audience with Sultan Azlan as soon as possible. 5.45pm: Nizar leaves the palace after audience with Sultan Azlan to request that the state assembly be dissolved. Note: With the changes in the political alliances of the four assemblymen, both BN and PR have 28 assemblymen each, with three pro-BN Independents in the 59-seat State Assembly. Sultan has two options – BN govt or fresh elections by Humayun Kabir newsdesk@thesundaily.com IPOH: The solution to Perak’s political impasse now lies with Sultan Azlan Shah who has two options: » Allow the Barisan Nasional, which has majority support (31 assemblymen vs 28 for the Pakatan Rakyat) in the 59-seat Legislative Assembly, to form a new government; or » Grant Mentri Besar Datuk Sri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin’s request to dissolve the state assembly and get a fresh mandate from voters. The latest episode of the 11-dayold political drama in the Silver State started at 3pm yesterday when Nizar announced to a packed press conference at his office that three PR assemblymen – Behrang’s Jamaludin Mohd Radzi and Changkat Jering’s Mohd Osman Mohd Jailu (of PKR) and Jelapang’s Hee Yit Foong (DAP) – had resigned from their respective parties and were now independents. There was an added intrigue when during the press conference Bota assemblyman Datuk Nasaruddin Hashim’s wife rang up Nizar and alleged that her husband had been “kidnapped” from his home and taken to Kuala Lumpur on the pretext of meeting the Perak Raja Muda. Nizar blamed Umno for playing “dirty politics” to destabilise the 11month-old PR government. Last night, speaking to reporters after attending PAS’s emergency meeting at the party headquarters and after an audience with the Sultan of Perak, Sultan Azlan Shah, earlier in the day, Nizar said he was confident the Ruler would make a fair and just decision to resolve the state’s political crisis. “I have no doubt that the decision will be fair to all ... to the people and to the political parties.” Nizar, who sought the Sultan’s consent after announcing the dissolution of the state assembly early in the day, said the Sultan did not convey any decision whether he would grant consent, Bernama reports. “He said he needed time to look into the matter. I will abide and accept whatever the decision,” he said. He said the audience went well and that he had briefed the Sultan on the latest political development and also conveyed his request for the consent. He said that since the Sultan had not made any decisions, “I will continue to run the state’s administration together with other PR assemblymen.” “I will be working as usual,” he said, adding that it was better to hold a snap election to resolve the political impasse once and for all. Should the Sultan decide not to grant consent, he said, the PR government could still function as a caretaker government. » More stories on pages 2 and 4 

PAS wins KT - The Star

KUALA TERENGGANU: PAS candidate Mohd Abdul Wahid Endut is the new Kuala Terengganu MP.

He defeated Barisan Nasional’s Datuk Wan Farid Wan Salleh and independent candidate Azharuddin Mamat.

Close to 80% of the 80,229 registered voters cast their ballots yesterday.

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said the result was merely a setback and would not have any bearing on the national political landscape.

MCA president Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat thanked the Chinese voters for staying with the Barisan despite the overall unfavourable results.

With the results, Barisan now has 137 seats in the Dewan Rakyat while the Opposition holds 82. There are also three independent MPs.

[From http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2009/1/18/kuala_terengganu/3056252&sec=Kuala Terengganu]

Massive landslide at Bukit Antarabangsa - The Star

KUALA LUMPUR: A massive landslide occurred in Bukit Antarabangsa at about 3.30am Saturday.

One resident is still missing while four have been found dead, said Selangor Chief Police Officer Deputy Comm Datuk Khalid Abu Bakar.

However, police have not ruled out the possibility that passers-by may also be trapped.

"We are confident (the last resident) is still alive. We are expecting to save someone.

"Only one resident is unaccounted for but we are not ruling out the possibility that passers-by may be affected.

"The operations will continue until we are sure that no one is trapped under the rubble," said Khalid.

The four others who had previously thought to be missing had escaped the landslide and have contacted the police.

Three of the dead have been identified as veterinarian Dr N. Yogeswari, 40, accountant Ng Yee Ping, 30, and Shaiful Khas Shaharuddin, 20.

The body of Indonesian maid Surina was removed from the rubble at around 7.40pm Saturday.

A total of 93 people have been rescued.

[More at http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/12/6/nation/20081206081039&sec=nation]

RON92 petrol to be replaced by RON95 - The Star

By Lisa Goh

KUALA LUMPUR: The Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry has decided to replace RON92 petrol with RON95 petrol by the middle of next year.

Minister Datuk Shahrir Abdul Samad said that the decision was made based on feedback from car manufacturers that most cars in Malaysia would be able to use RON95.

“That is what we found based on their feedback, but they have yet to confirm that in writing,” he told the press after presenting the F&N Out-Do Yourself Awards here on Thursday.

He said that the retail price for RON95 petrol would be the same as RON92, which is currently set at RM1.80.

However, he said the matter had not yet been brought up to the Cabinet, and he hoped to do so in the first quarter of next year.

Shahrir said that issue now was that many petrol stations on the Klang Valley did not have RON92, as oil companies found it more convenient to just provide only RON97 petrol.

[More at http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/12/4/nation/20081204193828&sec=nation]

Zaid sacked from Umno - The Star

By Sa'odah Elias, Royce Cheah and Nurbaiti Hamdan

KUALA LUMPUR: Umno has sacked former de-facto Law Minister Datuk Zaid Ibrahim for attending events organised by several opposition parties.

Announcing this last night, Umno president Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said the sacking would take effect immediately.

He said Zaid would not be given the chance to appeal against the decision.

“We need to take this drastic action because Zaid’s action in attending functions and being seen with opposition leaders are against the party’s ethics.

“In such cases, we need to act tough. Umno is always consistent and we cannot be seen as practising double standards,” he told reporters after chairing the Umno supreme council meeting here.

When contacted, Zaid said he would speak to the press tomorrow.

Last week, Zaid started another round of attacks against him by his former Umno colleagues when he attended yet another high-profile Pakatan Rakyat event on Saturday.

[More at http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/12/3/nation/2707326&sec=nation]

Confirmed: Shahrizat to go for top post - Malaysiakini

Wanita Umno deputy chief Shahrizat Abdul Jalil today announced that she will contest for the wing's top post next year.

The former cabinet minister - who was appointed as a special adviser to the prime minister after the March 8 elections following her defeat in the Lembah Pantai parliamentary constituency - made the announcement in a two-paragraph statement this afternoon.

"I, Shahrizat Abdul Jalil, hereby confirm that I accept the nominations and support to contest the position of chief of the Wanita Umno Movement Malaysia in March 2009.

"Wanita Umno must be united in strengthening the party as well as be bold in bringing about changes and renewal," read the statement.

The announcement ended speculations as to whether or not Shahrizat would accept the 73 nominations for her to contest against incumbent chief Rafidah Aziz, who received 117 nominations at the division level.

Previously, Rafidah had stated that she would defend her post and hand over the reins to Shahrizat in June.

[More at http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/93457]

Court frees ISA detainee Raja Petra - Malaysiakini

By Hafiz Yatim

Controversial blogger Raja Petra Kamarudin was released from his Internal Security Act (ISA) detention at 3.20pm.

The editor of the popular Malaysia Today website was brought to the Shah Alam High Court just five minutes earlier.

Expressing surprise with the decision, Raja Petra said: "Not many people have challenged the act (ISA) so much and I did not have much high hopes (of being released).

"This application allowed under Section 8 is a special prize. I am tired."

"This showed ISA cannot be used. I hope this is not a political decision. I don't want to be the prime minister. I want Anwar to be the PM," he said.

"We have to fight all-out and get the ISA abolished," he told reporters.

[More at http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/92620]

Petrol prices cut by 15 sen per litre - The Star

PUTRAJAYA: Petrol and diesel prices will go down 15 sen a litre from 12.01am on Saturday - the fourth reduction since August.

The new price of a litre of RON97 will be RM2.15 from RM2.30; RON92 will be RM2.05 from RM2.20; and diesel will be RM2.05 from RM2.20.

The prices will be reduced so that the people could enjoy the benefit of the recent drastic drop in global fuel prices, said Prime Minister Datuk Abdullah Ahmad Badawi in a statement on Friday.

The Star reported on Friday that petrol price will go down by 15sen and that petrol dealers expect another round of price cuts on Nov 15.

Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Datuk Shahrir Abdul Samad said that if the world crude oil price continued to drop at the present rate, local pump prices would likely revert to the pre-June price of RM1.92 per litre.

Shahrir, who said the average world crude oil price for October was US$76.40 (RM267.40) per barrel, said the average for November might go below US$70.

[More at http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/10/31/nation/20081031175020&sec=nation]

Abdul Razak Baginda acquitted - Malaysiakini

By S Pathmawathy

The Shah Alam High Court today acquitted political analyst Abdul Razak Baginda of abetting the murder of Mongolian national Altantuya Shaariibuu.

Justice Mohd Zaki Md Yasin ruled that the prosecution has failed to prove a case against Abdul Razak.

"I find there is no prima facie case for him to answer his charge. He is therefore acquitted and discharged," said Mohd Zaki.

Abdul Razak, a close associate of Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak had faced the death penalty by hanging if found guilty of abetting the 2006 murder of his former lover Altantuya, whose body was blown up with explosives in a jungle clearing.

In one of the longest hearings in Malaysia's history, the court spent 151 days hearing testimony from 84 witnesses on whether Abdul Razak and two police officers accused of carrying out the murder should face trial.

The court however ordered chief inspector Azilah Hadri, 32 and corporal Sirul Azhar Umar, 37 - from the elite Special Action Force (UTK) which guards the prime minister and deputy prime minister - to enter their defence to the charge of murder.

[More at http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/92191]

MCA GENERAL ASSEMBLY: Victory for Tee Keat, Soi Lek - NST

KUALA LUMPUR: Former MCA vice-president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek scored an upset in a tightly-contested four-cornered race to clinch the party's deputy presidency yesterday.

Dr Chua beat his nearest rival, secretary-general Datuk Seri Ong Ka Chuan, by a slim 114-majority.

The former health minister received 1,115 votes against Ka Chuan's 1,001. Vice-president Datuk Donald Lim Siang Chai could only manage 209 votes, while Tanjung division vice-chief Lee Hack Teik had 10.

There were 33 spoilt votes.

Datuk Ong Tee Keat, as expected, staved off a challenge from former health minister Datuk Chua Jui Meng to be elected the party's new president.

The transport minister garnered 1,429 votes against Chua's 917. There were 22 spoilt votes.

In a day of widespread rumours of upsets and super-charged tension, delegates awaited with bated breath while MCA elections steering committee chairman Tan Sri Wong See Wah announced the results at 9.45pm.

[More at http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/Sunday/Frontpage/2379614/Article/index_html]

Petrol prices reduced - The Star

KUALA LUMPUR: Petrol prices will be reduced by a further 10sen to 20sen from Wednesday.

RON 97 petrol is reduced by 15sen to RM2.30; RON 92 petrol is reduced by 10sen to RM2.20; and diesel is reduced by 20sen to RM2.20.

A post on the Prime Minister's Office website (www.pmo.gov.my) said the decision was made following the marked drop in the global oil price of late.

"The lowering of the fuel prices is also made to speed up the reduction of retail prices so that the people will be able to enjoy the benefits sooner," the post added.

The statement was signed by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

The previous two reductions were on Aug 23 and Sept 24.

[More at http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/10/14/nation/20081014175211&sec=nation]

Fuel prices down by 10sen - The Star

By Lee Yuk Peng

PUTRAJAYA: Prices of petrol and diesel are 10 sen cheaper from midnight Wednesday.

Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Datuk Shahrir Abdul Samad said the retail price of RON97 is reduced from RM2.55 per litre to RM2.45 per litre, the price of RON92 is lowered from RM2.40 to RM2.30, while diesel is reduced from RM2.50 to RM2.40 per litre.

In reading out a statement by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badaw, Shahrir said the 10 sen reduction is the maximum value that the Government could reduce.

It is also the second adjustment made by the Government.

The first adjustment to reduce the fuel price was made on Aug 23.

Shahrir said the Cabinet, which met Wednesday for the last time this month, decided to reduce the fuel price since people would start their balik kampung exodus this weekend to celebrate Hari Raya.

“It is hoped that the price reduction will reduce the burden of the people this festive season,’’ he said.

[More at http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/9/24/nation/20080924171710]

Teresa Kok released from ISA detention - The Star

KUALA LUMPUR: Seputeh MP Teresa Kok was released from detention under the Internal Security Act at about 1pm on Friday.

Her father Kok Kim Tong and mother Poh Seh Kwon were at the Jalan Travers police station here when she was released.

“I am happy that I have been released and I’m okay,” she told reporters gathered at the police station.

“I do not know why I was released today, just as I do not know why I was detained,” she added.

Deputy Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Ismail Omar said that Kok had been released at 1.30pm after investigations showed there was no reason to detain her any further.

"She was released unconditionally," he added.

Kok, 44, later Friday told a press conference at the DAP headquarters in Petaling Jaya that she would sue Utusan Malaysia and its columnist Zaini Hassan over articles written about her.

[More at http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/9/19/nation/20080919132938&sec=nation]

Sin Chew reporter released - The Star

By Derrick Vinesh and Christina Chin

BUKIT MERTAJAM: Warm hugs from her anxious family members and friends saw Tan Hoon Cheng almost breaking down in tears as she returned home in Taman Alma, here at about 4.15pm Saturday.

The 33-year-old Sin Chew Daily reporter, who was detained Friday under the Internal Security Act (ISA), was released in less than 24 hours.

She was all smiles as she spoke to her family and friends for a mere 20 minutes before heading to stay at a friend’s house to avoid the media.

Clad in a pale orange T-shirt and jeans, Hoon Cheng remained calm and composed, as four police officers dropped her off in a four-wheel drive at 4.15pm.

Her brother Weng Tong, 37, said Hoon Cheng told him that she was taken to the Perak police headquarters in Ipoh instead of the Bukit Aman Police Headquarters in Kuala Lumpur as they had initially thought.

“The police drove her from the Penang police headquarters to Ipoh at about 8.30am and returned to the same place on the island at about 2.30pm.

“Due to slight traffic congestion on the Penang Bridge, they only reached our home in Bukit Mertajam at about 4pm,” he said Saturday.

[More at http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/9/13/nation/20080913100931&sec=nation]

ISA dragnet widens: MP Teresa Kok too - Malaysiakini

DAP leader Teresa Kok has also been detained under the Internal Security Act - the third person to be detained without trial today.

It is learnt that the Selangor senior executive councillor and Seputeh parliamentarian was stopped by the police at about 11.18pm on her way back from a function in Kuala Lumpur.

She was arrested after her vehicle was blocked by three police patrol cars.

Deputy inspector-general of police Ismail Omar said that Kok's arrest was made under Section 73(1) of the Act.

According to party stalwart Lim Kit Siang, the three police cars with over 10 police personnel stopped Kok at her condominium entrance and took her away.

He said that she was arrested while returning to her condominium in Kuala Lumpur from a Mooncake Festival reception in her constituency office.

Kok has been in news in recent days - especially in the Malay dailies - after it was claimed that she had told mosque officials in Kota Damansara, Sri Serdang and Puchong Jaya to tone down the call to prayer.

Kok however had denied the allegations.

[More at http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/89608]

ISA arrest No 2: Sin Chew journalist held - Malaysiakini

Sin Chew Daily journalist Tan Hoon Cheng has been arrested today under the Internal Security Act at 8.30pm at her home in Bukit Mertajam, Penang.

Tan, 33, is the second person after Malaysia Today editor Raja Petra Kamarudin, to be arrested under the tough security law which allows for detention without trial.

She was taken by the police to the Penang police headquarters, where a crowd of 100 supporters have gathered to express their concern.

Tan was the first journalist who reported that local Umno chieftain Ahmad Ismail had allegedly said that Chinese Malaysians are “squatters” in the country.

Deputy inspectorp-general of police Ismail Omar has confirmed her arrest under ISA.

Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng's political secretary Ng Wei Aik was at the police headquarters to obtain more information on Tan's arrest.

"Penang police chief Ayub Yaakob has just confirmed the arrest of the journalist under section 73(1) of ISA to the chief minister," he told reporters gathered at the Penang police headquarters at about 10.45pm.

[More at http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/89602]

Raja Petra arrested under ISA - Malaysiakini

By Andrew Ong

Controversial blogger Raja Petra Kamaruddin was arrested today under the Internal Security Act for allegedly being a threat to security, peace and public order.

According to Home Minister Syed Hamid Albar, the 58-year old father of five would be detained under Section 73(1) of the ISA, which allows for detention of up to 60 days.

“The police will do an assessment during this period and if they feel he should be held more than 60 days, the police will then refer to me,” Syed Hamid was quoted as saying by The Star.

The minister also confirmed that the Sin Chew Daily, The Sun and Suara Keadilan were issued show cause letters. "They have been given a week to reply," he added.

Raja Petra's wife Marina Lee Abdullah earlier told Malaysiakini that 10 police personnel from Bukit Aman came to their home in Sungai Buloh at about 1.10pm to arrest him.

When Malaysiakini contacted her at 1.25pm, the police personnel were still there. However, Raja Petra - popularly known by his initials RPK - was taken away to an unknown destination at 1.50pm. The police also confiscated some books and VCDs.

[More at http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/89544]