Kuala Lumpur, Sept 13 Home Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar said today that Sin Chew Daily reporter Tan Hoon Cheng could be released as soon as today.
The minister also said he did not expect any more arrests this weekend under the Internal Security Act (ISA).
His statement appears to represent a softening of the government's position amid widespread expectations of a major crackdown this weekend.
Opposition groups and various non-governmental organisations have condemned the arrests and have urged the authorities to release immediately all those who have been detained.
Tan was believed to have been detained in connection with the report she filed in which Bukit Bendera Umno chief was quoted as calling the Chinese squatters.
Besides Tan, Seputed MP Teresa Kok and blogger Raja Petra Kamaruddin were also picked up yesterday.
Tan, who was arrested from her home in Bukit Mertajam, Penang, is believed to have been taken to Bukit Aman federal police headquarters here this morning.
Both Kok and Raja Petra are also believed to be in Bukit Aman, but this cannot be confirmed.
Syed Hamid said that whether any more ISA arrests would be made depended on the public order situation.
Barisan Nasional (BN) parties Gerakan and Umno have been engaged in a war of words for weeks over Ahmad's remarks.
Ealier this week, Ahmad was suspended from his party posts for three years after he openly refused to apologise and called for Gerakan's expulsion from the BN coalition.
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