Catch & Release

Technorati tags: ISA, Injustice, Tan Hoon Cheng, Catch & Release

The term "catch & release" refers to this stupid thing that sports fishermen (and fisherwomen) do - catch a fish for the fun of it, then release the critter. For conservation purposes, apparently. The good news is that it now also applies to one Ms. Tan Hoon Cheng.

And in the process, we may have just seen a new sport inadvertently being born - Sports Incarceration. And wait till you hear why Ms. Tan was arrested under the ISA.

Home Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar said no more arrests are expected under the Internal Security Act (ISA) but it would depend on the situation of public order.

”We are not making arrests just for the sake of arrests.

”We will not make any more arrests under ISA as long as there is no more disturbance to peace and public order,” he said.

He also appealed to all newspapers to cooperate with the Government and not incite negative feelings or sentiment.

Speaking on the one-day arrest of Sin Chew Daily News reporter Tan Hoon Cheng, who was arrested under the ISA, he said Tan was detained under Section 73(1) of the Act in order to ensure her safety.
(source: The Star)

Not exactly a very intelligent thing to say, if you ask Walski. Taken into police custody is one thing - arrested under the ISA is a totally different kettle of fish. Even if it's catch & release. Who does he think he's kidding, really?

For some reason, Walski couldn't help but think of squids (hint: look for "sotong") when he read the news clip above (hat-tip: KTemoc Konsiders & I am Malaysian).
(Blur... is not just a British rock group, and more, in the full post)

And for some other reason, Walski's vision is starting to get blur... and he's not talking about the British rock outfit either.

Okay... back on planet Malaysia...

Walski is glad that Tan's been released. The whole episode has been seen as intimidation of the press. Not quite in living up to what Pak Lah said about 10 days ago, is it?

The media must not be afraid to report the truth while upholding justice, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

He said the media should also not feel apologetic when reporting the facts.

He added that the credibility of an institution relies on its strength to stand by the truth while ensuring that justice prevailed.

"Hold strongly to the principles of truth as the credibility of an institution depends on it," he said, reminding that communication technology and channels could be used both constructively and destructively.

Abdullah said the two could be used as instruments to uphold principles of justice while spreading only the facts.

"News contents with negative elements such as spreading lies and slander will only bring about disunity and destruction," he said Wednesday at the Prime Minister's Office here when launching the Bernama Web TV, which is said to be South-East Asia's first live Internet news channel.
(source: The Star)

Perhaps what he meant was facts, truth and justice as long as these were UMNO-friendly. And Walski reckons, too, that printing lies and baseless allegations (like what Utusan did) is okay, as long as it's Opposition-unfriendly.

In reality, report the real truth, and it's your ass on the line. Or risk being the target of this morbid new sport called Catch & Release...

Walski's catch and release footnote: As you can probably surmise, Walski's not a fan of fishing... of the sports variety, in particular. But nothing against those that like it, by the way. He's been told that it's a very calming activity. Boring, perhaps, but calming...