KUALA LUMPUR: Sin Chew Daily senior reporter Tan Hoon Cheng, who was picked up by the police at her house at Bukit Mertajam under the Internal Security Act Friday night (12 Sept), was sent to Bukit Aman Police Headquarters.

Penang Chief Police Officer Datuk Ayub Yaakob told Bernama: "She was brought to Bukit Aman after being allowed to meet her parents at Penang Contingent Police Headquarters at 8.30 a.m."

Tan, 33, was seen getting into a black Kia Sorenta which was escorted by a Proton Waja after meeting her parents, Tan Booi Siam and Khor Ah Heok, at the state police headquarters in Jalan Penang.

Her father in his 70s and mother, 60s, who came to the police headquarters with Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng and counsel Chia Loong Thye before 8 a.m., brought clothes and food for Tan.

Khor said she and her husband were happy because they were allowed to meet their daughter and spent 15 minutes with her.

"She was fine. The police also treated her well last night at the police headquarters. She told us not to worry," Khor told reporters.

Seen outside the state police headquarters were Hoon Cheng's brother Tan Weng Khian, 35, state PKR chairman Datuk Zahrain Mohamed Hashim, and state executive councillor Abdul Malik Abul Kassim.

Waiting for her arrival at Bukit Aman were Sin Chew Media Corporation executive director Rita Sim and Sin Chew Daily chief executive officer Koo Cheng, group editor-in-chief NC Siew and chief editor Pook Ah Lek.

"We hope to be able to meet Tan to make sure she is okay. We also want to appeal to the authorities so that she could be released or not detained under ISA.

"We do not want to make any speculation. We only hope that our journalist is given the opportunity to defend herself," Rita told reporters. (Bernama)