JOHOR BAHRU: Home Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar said, Sin Chew Daily senior reporter Tan Hoon Cheng, who was detained under ISA last night, could be released earliest by today.

He said the police had detained her in consideration of her safety under the Internal Security Act 73 (1), because according to police information, after she reported the remarks by UMNO divisional chairman Datuk Ahmad Ismail, her life had been in danger.

"We had no intentin of detaining any reporter, as she only reported the remarks made by someone else, which has since triggered controversies."

"After the police get all the necessary information from her, we will release her earliest by today."

Syed Hamid emphasised that the detention of the reporter had been part of the preventive actions adopted by the police.

On the detention of Selangor senior executive councillor Teresa Kok, also under ISA, Syed Hamid said she was arrested because her remarks on mosque and Muslim prayers had created some problems and chaos.

He went on to say that no more people would be detained under ISA next, but that would depend on the situation of the society.