What is there for the police to further investigate in this case when it is a very simple straightfoward case of the SOS and the tenants seeking to get Tsu Koon to give a response regarding the ill-planned repeal of the Rent Control Act and the Chief Minister’s refusal to give personal attention to this problem despite several approaches?
As SOS Committee member Goh Hun Ming said at a press conference yesterday, "We do not enjoly ‘ambushing’ him. All we want is an answer".
Gerakan leaders, including the Chief Minister, must bear responsibility for the unreasonable and unwarranted five-day extension of detention of Ong and Ooi, for if Gerakan leaders can publicly allege that there is a "political blackhand" orchestrating the events, they could be saying even more terrible things about Ong and Ooi in private to the police.
Gerakan leaders should come forward to declare whether they agree that it is proper and justified that Ong and Ooi should be detained for another five days or whether they agree this is uncompletely unwarranted and a gross abuse of power and both should be released immediately and unconditionally.
The Chief Minister’s Office should officially express its concern to the Penang police at the five-day extension of the detention of Ong and Ooi and support their immediate and unconditional release.
Meanwhile, Tsu Koon should announce an emergency plan to resolve the problems faced by the tenants who have received eviction notices expiring at the end of the month, by making use of the RM100 million fund to directly benefit the tenants as landlords are not keen on its grants.
(20/3/2000)