by Raymond Tan, reporters@theborneopost.com. Posted on July 13, 2011, Wednesday
FREEDOM AT LAST: Hii Tiong Huat (file photo) is released from detention but without his yellow shirt and shoes.
SIBU: Maverick politician Hii Tiong Huat was finally released from detention in Kuala Lumpur yesterday evening.
Hii was arrested wearing the yellow Bersih T-shirt in Kuala Lumpur on the eve of the Bersih rally last Friday.
While he walked out a free man from Dang Wangi police station the fate of his yellow T-shirt remains unknown.
Malaysia Election Observers Network (MEONet) coordinator Ong Boon Keong, who picked Hii up at the police station, laughed when he related to The Borneo Post Hii’s enforced change of attire.
“He is released alright, but the police detained his yellow T-shirt. So, Hii walked out a free man wearing a purple shirt from the police cell.”
Ong said the police would only release his shirt today.
At press time, Ong was looking for a shirt for Hii. He said the police also kept Hii’s shoes.
“Now, Hii is barefooted as well.” He said he would arrange for his overnight stay in the national capital.
“Tomorrow, Hii will pick up his yellow T-shirt and shoes.
I believe he will head home from there. He is not charged.” The MEO-Net coordinator said he had already met Hii yesterday at 10am.
“He was well and in high spirit. In the 15 minutes’ talk, he told me about how he wanted to sue the police for putting him in a cell not fit for humans.”
The arrest of Hii has remained mysterious.
Even Asian Forum For Human Rights and Development reported the 60-year-old lone politician missing.
After his arrest last Friday, Hii was detained at the Bukit Jalil Police Station and investigated under the Societies Act 1966.
“While in detention, he refused to have his statement taken. He wanted to speak to a lawyer first, but he was not given the privilege.”
He said his statement was finally taken on Monday.
Ong said he had kept Hii’s wife informed of her husband’s movement.
The MEO-Net man said after the video of Hii’s arrest was posted in the Internet, the popularity of the ‘lone-ranger’ politician soared.
“Our 13-minute video was viewed 270,000 times and it received about 2,000 comments.”
He said when news of his detention spread, there were people who brought food to the police station for him. Ong yesterday also brought in breakfast for Hii.
He brought him nasi lemak, steamed buns and others.
Back home here the locals are resigned to putting up with his eccentricities when he got back, especially his nightly drive in a van into crowded areas and honking for attention as he waved to the crowd.
On top of his van is a signboard of Gawai Dayak greeting and words introducing him as an independent candidate of Lanang parliamentary constituency for the coming General Election.
Meanwhile, after The Borneo Post published Hii’s page in the Facebook yesterday, more people have visited it.
From Monday noon 106 people “liked” it and the number hiked to 291 “likes” by 6.30pm yesterday.
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