* Teresa menyaman Utusan Malaysia dan menuntut gantirugi RM 30 juta.
* Teresa turut menyaman bekas MB Selangor, Dr. Khir Toyo dan pengarang Utusan Malaysia, Zaini Hassan.
* Tiada alasan kukuh untuk menahan Teresa di bawah akta ISA.
* MCA antara dalang yang membuat laporan polis.
Laporan Malaysiakini:
Utusan dares Kok to take lie detector test
Chan Kok Leong | Sep 19, 08 7:25pm
While sassy Teresa Kok was released to the joy and delight of DAP supporters and leaders and the Selangor menteri besar, her war against a local daily may have just begun.
For despite being released by the police after seven days of detention and questioning over her role in the petition for a mosque in Puchong to lower the volume of its morning sermons, her innocence is still in question.
That is, as far as Umno-owned Utusan Malaysia is concerned.
Barely two hours after her release at the Jalan Travers police station at 1pm, the Selangor state exco member came face to face with her accusers again.
At the press conference in DAP headquarters today, Kok was asked by an Utusan reporter if she was willing to take a lie detector test to convince Malaysians that she had no part in the azan controversy.
DAP parliamentary leader Lim Kit Siang leapt to his former political secretary's defence, questioning the questioner, "For what?".
"They (the police) released her already, proving that they were wrong. Isn't that enough?" said Lim.
Not to be outdone, Kok upped the ante, saying that the lie detector test should first be used on her accusers before they ask her to take the polygraph test.
Legal suits
On her part, the Seputeh MP and Kinrara assemblyperson has also vowed to follow through and obtain justice from the courts against the daily, its columnist Zaini Hassan and former Selangor MB Dr Khir Toyo.
Besides lodging a police report against them, Kok is also suing Utusan for RM30 million for libel and tarnishing her image. Not left out either is the government and the police for "unlawful arrest and detention".
In addition, Kota Raja MP Dr Siti Mariah Mahmud (PAS) has also lodged a report against Khir and a blog for their allegations.
Kok also said she was very angry with Khir and Utusan for causing her detention and highlighted the government's use of different standards in patrolling newspapers.
"I'm very angry. Whenever such issues arise, other papers get into trouble and are given show-cause letters.
"How come Utusan Malaysia has never received such letters from the Internal Security or Home Ministry?" she asked.
Public inquiry
Lim jumped into the fray, demanding for a public inquiry on how the detentions took place.
"We should find out how the ISA was invoked and disciplinary action (including sacking) should be done to those responsible."
"You don't use the ISA as a fishing expedition just as it should not be used to protect citizens," Lim said to laughter in the room.
He also alleged the MCA played a part in her detention.
"Teresa's arrests was based on a report lodged a day before she was detained. The report on the azan issue was made by a key MCA operative in Puchong.
"Although, the MCA central working committee has taken the position that Teresa should not be detained under the ISA and be charged in court if there is evidence, it is time they explain why one of their operatives filed the report."
The report, he alleged, was the trigger for Kok's arrest. Lim said they received the report after the her detention.
Cheerful mood
Nevertheless, the cheerful mood among the supporters, party workers and even journalists covering the press conference prevailed.
Neither the awkward question nor an electrical blip that plunged the room into darkness and heat for some 10 minutes could spoil the welcome homecoming party for the outspoken politician.
So much so, that a bouquet of flowers, a cake and mooncake were waiting her before she came into the conference room.
The rest of the 50-minute press conference was conducted in an almost festive note as DAP chairman Karpal Singh, Selangor MB Khalid Ibrahim and state exco colleague Elizabeth Wong joined in.
Arrested and nearly handcuffed
Relating the incidents of the day, Kok told of how she was tailed the whole day by police before the arrest took place on her way home last Friday.
"I was going back to my condo after a function when a car sped up to block my car while another stopped behind me.
"Police came and tapped on my window to say that I was being arrested under the ISA. My request for a phone call was rejected.
"After instructing my driver to inform the party and my family, I was taken away," said Kok.
Requests for a shower and a chance to pick up some clothings before going to the police station were also ignored, said Kok.
The police, she added, wanted to handcuff her but after pleading with them, they relented and took her to a police station without the restraints.
Kok said that she was unsure where she was taken to and only got to her cell around 4am.
During her seven-day detention, Kok said she was only questioned twice – Saturday and Sunday – on the three allegations.
After the first session on Saturday, the three-term Seputeh MP offered to write her own statement for the police.
"They gave me a laptop on Sunday and I typed out my answers to their three questions in Bahasa Malaysia," said Kok.
The rest of her detention was uneventful, said Kok, except for one day when they gave her only boiled eggs, gravy and some cucumber for lunch and dinner.
Bible to read
Initially, she was not given any reading material but later on she was given a bible after she requested for "something". On the last two days, Kok was allowed to read newspapers.
"But I got some of the news by asking the investigating officer when I was being questioned in his room. That was the only time I got some air-cond," said the politician with an impish grin.
After the first two days, Kok was also permitted to exercise before she was returned to her '6 by 8' cell at 5.30pm each day.
The only upsetting moment in her detention was when she was told her confinement would be extended by 28 days.
"It was distressing as I had already answered their questions," said Kok.
"It was also ironic that the morning they arrested me, I was explaining to 300 businessmen from China that Malaysia was a politically stable country for them to do business with."
"Imagine, their horror when the person who spoke to them on Friday appeared in the papers the next day, detained."
On her immediate plans, Kok, said that she will return to work as soon as possible.
"In fact, I've three functions to attend tonight," said Kok.
She ended the conference by thanking everyone who had supported her, with a special note to former law minister Zaid Ibrahim, who quit after protesting the ISA arrests.
"Zaid is really my friend! Thanks Zaid and you are welcomed to join Pakatan Rakyat anytime," she quipped.
Lebih:ISA: Teresa Kok dibebaskan.
Dijamu 'seperti makanan anjing'.
Artikel akhbar jadi asas siasiatan.
Wartawan Utusan cabar Teresa jalani ujian kesan pembohongan.
MP Seputeh mahu saman kerajaan.
