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Video of DAP ISA night vigil
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Candlelight protest in Bukit Aman lasts 12 mins Fauwaz Abdul Aziz | Sep 13, 08 10:55am The candlelight vigil outside the Bukit Aman police headquarters lasted only 12 minutes before the police ordered the crowd to disperse.
MCPX
The vigil, which took place about 100 meters from the entrance of the national police headquarters this evening, was to protest the arrest of three individuals under the draconian Internal Security Act, which allows for detention without trial.
The protesters - numbering about 100 - proceeded to light candles and sang reformasi songs under the watchful eyes of 80 police officers, mainly from the Dang Wangi district police station, including dozens of light strike force personnel.
Ordinary citizens made the bulk of the crowd while the rest were leaders of civil society organisations such as human rights group Suaram, the National Union of Journalists, as well as opposition parties PKR, PAS and DAP.
They nevertheless complied with the order as the riot police began beating their batons against their shields in a show of force.
"We hope the people's power will remain. It is the power of the people that will triumph," said GMI secretariat member E Nalini as organisers called for the crowd to leave the area.
"It is the people's power that determines the (success of) struggles for change everywhere," she added.
Frustrated with the government
"Suara rakyat... suara rakyat... suara rakyat laungkan! Kita bangun... kita bangun... kita bangun dan lawan!" they sang in unison.
"I'm here in support of the demands for the release of (blogger) Raja Petra Kamaruddin and (Seputeh MP) Teresa Kok and to express dissatisfaction with their arrest and that of (Sin Chew Daily journalist) Tan Hoon Cheng.
The three individuals were arrested yesterday in separate operations consisting of police teams from Bukit Aman.
"We're frustrated with a government that refuses to allow anybody to express their dissatisfaction or their demands or right to know what is happening. They're trying to pull the wool over our eyes.
"The government needs to stop treating its citizens as children. We know what we want, and this is why we're having this protest here," she added.
"What harm can we do with lit candles? What's the difference between walking with lit candles and walking with them unlit?" asked Lee. His impassioned entreaties fell, however, on deaf ears.
"We have our orders," said one officer, who declined to be identified.
Journalists on march
Among the journalists from the mainstream and alternative media who - dressed in black to protest Tan's ordeal - was The Edge Daily's Pauline Puah.
"That was totally unacceptable and ridiculous, and it made a laughing stock of us in front of the whole world," she said.
In reference to Home Minister Syed Hamid Albar's statement that Tan was held by the police for her own protection from certain quarters said to be angry with her report of a politician's allegedly inflamatory speech, Puah said: "That wasn't protection - that was detention!"
Echoing her statements, former New Straits Times journalist Deborah Loh said the authorities had a unusual way of ‘protecting' victims of alleged death threats: "Rather than detaining Tan for her own ‘protection', they should have detained those who uttered the offensive remarks."
By about 9:15pm, most of the protesters had left the area.
To the remaining few who lingered with the organisers, GMI chairperson Syed Ibrahim Syed Noh said all civil society organisations and social and political activists should work towards the dismantling of such "evil" regimes as the ISA.
"We will continue to fight until the ISA is abolished!" said a defiant Syed Ibrahim, whose last words drew the evening to a close.
One freed, fate of 2 others unknownControversial blogger Raja Petra, 58, who has targeted government figures on his website Malaysia Today, was the first to be taken into custody at 1.10pm.
Tan was released this afternoon while Kok and Raja Petra are still under police detention in an unknown location.
Watch 10-min video of the vigil in Bukit Aman
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Pakatan plans anti-ISA rally tomorrow Sep 14, 08 1:51pm Pakatan Rakyat has announced a mass rally against the government crackdown on the eve of Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim's deadline to take power through defections from the ruling coalition.
MCPX
Anwar said on the weekend that he has enough support to pull off a parliamentary coup, but that the takeover slated for next Tuesday could be delayed by the series of arrests under tough internal security laws.
"The priority is political stability. It's not an issue of deferring, we have the numbers to move," he said, adding he was "mindful" that he too could be targeted with arrest.
Anwar, a former deputy premier who was sacked and jailed a decade ago, needs 30 lawmakers to defect if he is to topple the Barisan Nasional coalition.
That prospect would have been unthinkable before March general elections, when his opposition alliance shocked the nation by denying the government its two-thirds majority in parliament for the first time.
Since then the coalition has been in disarray, and the arrests on Friday of an opposition politician, a prominent blogger and a journalist raised fears of a widespread campaign against dissent.
"Instead of pursuing a reform agenda it has chosen to burn the country to save itself and to maintain its odious grip on power," Anwar said.
Gather at Kelana Jaya stadium
The three arrested have been accused of inciting ethnic tensions in the multicultural country, but Anwar accused the government of stirring up a phony racial crisis in order to deflect attention from its own problems.
"We ask the government how far it is willing to go to usurp justice and destroy the institutions of good governance in its attempt to drive the Malaysian people against each other," he said.
The opposition alliance said it expected some 30,000 supporters to gather for the rally in Kelana Jaya stadium on Monday night to call for the release of the two still detained, after the journalist was freed Saturday.
It will be held on the eve of September 16, Anwar's deadline to seize power and also the day in 1963 when Sabah and Sarawak joined together with Malaya to form modern Malaysia.
"We gained independence but Malaysians continue to live under repression. We believe Malaysia Day should symbolise freedom, justice and equality," said PKR information chief Tian Chua.
"The gathering at Kelana Jaya stadium is to express our solidarity for the two people held under the draconian security law and to demand their freedom," he told AFP.
Rights groups have condemned the use of the Internal Security Act (ISA), which allows for indefinite detention without trial, and the United States summoned Malaysia's top envoy in Washington in protest over the arrests.
Newspapers threatened with suspension
Opposition lawmaker Teresa Kok, from the Chinese-based Democratic Action Party which is a member of the opposition alliance, was arrested over allegations she complained about the noise of morning prayers at a mosque.
She has said the accusation is "preposterous".
The other detainee is controversial blogger, 58-year-old Raja Petra Kamaruddin, who has repeatedly targeted government figures on his website Malaysia Today.
He has already been charged with sedition and defamation after linking Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak and his wife to the sensational murder of a Mongolian woman.
Police quickly released Tan Hoon Cheng from the Chinese-language Sin Chew Daily who had reported on an outburst from a ruling party member who called ethnic Chinese "squatters".
The politician was subsequently disciplined and the decision to target Tan caused widespread dismay and disbelief including from Chinese-based parties in the coalition.
Three Malaysian newspapers - Tan's Sin Chew Daily News, The Sun, a free English-language daily, and Suara Keadilan, which is published by the opposition - were also on Friday threatened with suspension.
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THEY SAID ISA ARREST WERE FOR PROTECTION OF DETAINEES.
BN better worry for themselves.
Very soon after the regime change, it will be their turns to get under such PROTECTIONS. And they better know how to enjoy themselves in detention.
:p
http://malaysiakini.com/news/89697
ISA blitz signals Umno in turmoil Athi Veeranggan | Sep 14, 08 4:42pm The government crackdown on Friday where three individuals were arrested under the Internal Security Act indicates that all is not well in the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition.
MCPX
The arrest of blogger Raja Petra Kamarudin, Sin Chew Daily senior journalist Tan Hoon Cheng and DAP MP Teresa Kok under the tough security law - which provides for detention without trial - has irked many journalists, politicians and social activists.
PAS Parit Buntar MP Dr Mujahid Yusof Rawa argued it was unfair to arrest a journalist for doing her job while “the man who spat the venom roams free”.
Contacted after Tan’s arrest on Friday, suspended Umno chieftain Ahmad Ismail - the man who allegedly made the racist remarks reported by Tan - appeared to be in a jovial mood in Kuala Lumpur and was not perturbed by the incident.
However, within hours of Tan’s arrest, a large group of journalists, politicians, social activists as well as members of the public gathered outside the Penang police headquarters in Georgetown to show their support for the journalist.
Another crowd gathered outside the Central Seberang Perai district police headquarters in Bandar Baru Perda, Bukit Mertajam, where the reporter was held for three hours before she was transferred to the state headquarters.
A candlelight vigil was also held to protest against the use of the draconian ISA.
Scores of politicians from the state’s ruling party DAP, PAS and even Gerakan and MCA arrived at the scene to condemn the arrest.
'Face-saving measure'
Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, himself a former ISA detainee, said he could understand what the trio were experiencing.
“Please don’t ask me about my ordeal. I don’t want anyone to suffer it,” the DAP secretary-general told the media.
“Their arrest was against universal human rights, democratic values and press freedom,” added Penang DAP publicity secretary Wong Hon Wai.
Some felt the presence of Gerakan and MCA politicians was a ‘face-saving’ measure to avoid blame over their role in the Ahmad controversy.“If not for them and Penang Umno leaders, things would not have blown up,” observed Hindu Action Network coordinator G Mugunthan.
He described Penang Gerakan’s 200-metre anti-ISA march from its headquarters to Sin Chew’s Georgetown office on Saturday as a publicity stunt.
Gerakan secretary-general Chia Kwang Chye and vice-president Dr Teng Hock Nan were there to also expressed their displeasure against the ISA detention.
But when asked whether BN leaders, who blew Ahmad’s infamous remarks out of proportion, should also be arrested, both remained tightlipped.
“They would not feel sorry because they want to regain their lost power at all cost,” said an anti-ISA activist, adding that Ahmad’s episode was a ‘typical BN drama’ to fish in troubled waters.
Umno in turmoil?
Activist Anil Netto linked the ISA detentions with Umno's infighting over the 2010 transition plan and the much-touted Anwar Ibrahim's Sept 16 political coup.
Many have alleged that the Ahmad controversy was choreographed by Umno-BN ‘to create a chilling political atmosphere via communalism’ so as to justify a massive crackdown on government dissidents.
The Sin Chew report on Ahmad’s speech belittling Chinese Malaysians as “immigrants squatting in the country” was first played up by BN components - MCA and Gerakan - before DAP followed suit to lodge a series of police reports.
While DAP kept its distance from turning it into a racial issue, MCA and Gerakan harped on the matter.
Many felt that the imbroglio would have ended if Ahmad had emulated Perak’s Sungai Rapat assemblyperson Hamidah Osman, who promptly apologised after uttering racist remarks against Indian Malaysians in June.
The unapologetic Ahmad was subsequently suspended by the party, but it was a case of too little, too late.
Some political analysts claimed that the Ahmad controversy and ISA detentions were scripted and directed by hidden hands to topple the premier to pre-empt Sept 16.
“It’s the same classic story of an Umno-BN screenplay to tense up the situation so that it can strengthen its waning power,” said Mujahid.
On such previous occasions, Umno was successful in resurrecting its power, but this time, it might not succeed due to several factors.
Chief among them is that the opposition is now led by a multi-racial coalition. Other factors include the prompt dissemination of information via the Internet, international pressure, widespread disenchantment against BN and possible royal intervention.
Like a lit candle spurting briefly before its demise, many view the latest incident as a desperate attempt by the Umno-BN government to stop the inevitable.
Razaleigh-Muhyiddin 'dream team'
It is also speculated that turmoil has besieged Umno, with a faction within the party forming a 'dream team' against party leader Abdullah and his deputy, Najib.
“It would reunite two of the biggest rivals Umno has ever seen - Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah. And go beyond that,” said Singapore's bilingual MyPaper in a report on Friday - the day the crackdown was launched.
Former Umno president Mahathir had quit the party in March and vowed to return only when his successor Abdullah is no longer at the helm.
The report stated that last Saturday’s meeting of "Umno veterans" was not merely an effort to bring back Mahathir, but would also change the power equation in Umno and put the 2010 transition plan in jeopardy.
“Mahathir will now reportedly throw his support behind Tengku Razaleigh, the man who came closest to defeating him in an Umno election.
“Muhyiddin, who has publicly said Abdullah should not wait until 2010 to step down, could be Tengku Razaleigh's running mate in this Dream Team.”
However, the report claimed that Muhyiddin has told friends he would be more than happy to step back for Rais Yatim, the veteran foreign minister.
According to the report, the 'dream team' would also include Mahathir’s son Mukhriz, who will be gunning for the Umno Youth chief post in December’s party polls.
The newspaper also quoted a Razaleigh aide as saying that the prospects of a 'dream team' is giving the incumbent leaders sleepless nights.
“With the support of Mahathir, Muhyiddin and Rais, Tengku Razaleigh will definitely get the minimum number of nominations needed to contest the No 1 post,” said the aide, who was not named.
Quoting sources, MyPaper also reported that Najib was so worried that he sought an appointment to see Mahathir and the duo met early last week.
“There have been no press reports on the meeting, but MyPaper understands that Mahathir made it clear to Najib that he was 'quite committed' to the dream team,” read the report.
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BN better worry for themselves.
Very soon after the regime change, it will be their turns to get under such PROTECTIONS. And they better know how to enjoy themselves in detention.
:phttp://malaysiakini.com/news/89697
ISA blitz signals Umno in turmoil Athi Veeranggan | Sep 14, 08 4:42pm The government crackdown on Friday where three individuals were arrested under the Internal Security Act indicates that all is not well in the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition.
MCPX
The arrest of blogger Raja Petra Kamarudin, Sin Chew Daily senior journalist Tan Hoon Cheng and DAP MP Teresa Kok under the tough security law - which provides for detention without trial - has irked many journalists, politicians and social activists.
PAS Parit Buntar MP Dr Mujahid Yusof Rawa argued it was unfair to arrest a journalist for doing her job while “the man who spat the venom roams free”.
However, within hours of Tan’s arrest, a large group of journalists, politicians, social activists as well as members of the public gathered outside the Penang police headquarters in Georgetown to show their support for the journalist.
Another crowd gathered outside the Central Seberang Perai district police headquarters in Bandar Baru Perda, Bukit Mertajam, where the reporter was held for three hours before she was transferred to the state headquarters.
Scores of politicians from the state’s ruling party DAP, PAS and even Gerakan and MCA arrived at the scene to condemn the arrest.
'Face-saving measure'
Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, himself a former ISA detainee, said he could understand what the trio were experiencing.
“Please don’t ask me about my ordeal. I don’t want anyone to suffer it,” the DAP secretary-general told the media.
“Their arrest was against universal human rights, democratic values and press freedom,” added Penang DAP publicity secretary Wong Hon Wai.
Some felt the presence of Gerakan and MCA politicians was a ‘face-saving’ measure to avoid blame over their role in the Ahmad controversy.“If not for them and Penang Umno leaders, things would not have blown up,” observed Hindu Action Network coordinator G Mugunthan.
He described Penang Gerakan’s 200-metre anti-ISA march from its headquarters to Sin Chew’s Georgetown office on Saturday as a publicity stunt.
But when asked whether BN leaders, who blew Ahmad’s infamous remarks out of proportion, should also be arrested, both remained tightlipped.
“They would not feel sorry because they want to regain their lost power at all cost,” said an anti-ISA activist, adding that Ahmad’s episode was a ‘typical BN drama’ to fish in troubled waters.
Umno in turmoil?
Activist Anil Netto linked the ISA detentions with Umno's infighting over the 2010 transition plan and the much-touted Anwar Ibrahim's Sept 16 political coup.
Many have alleged that the Ahmad controversy was choreographed by Umno-BN ‘to create a chilling political atmosphere via communalism’ so as to justify a massive crackdown on government dissidents.
The Sin Chew report on Ahmad’s speech belittling Chinese Malaysians as “immigrants squatting in the country” was first played up by BN components - MCA and Gerakan - before DAP followed suit to lodge a series of police reports.
While DAP kept its distance from turning it into a racial issue, MCA and Gerakan harped on the matter.
Many felt that the imbroglio would have ended if Ahmad had emulated Perak’s Sungai Rapat assemblyperson Hamidah Osman, who promptly apologised after uttering racist remarks against Indian Malaysians in June.
The unapologetic Ahmad was subsequently suspended by the party, but it was a case of too little, too late.
“It’s the same classic story of an Umno-BN screenplay to tense up the situation so that it can strengthen its waning power,” said Mujahid.
On such previous occasions, Umno was successful in resurrecting its power, but this time, it might not succeed due to several factors.
Chief among them is that the opposition is now led by a multi-racial coalition. Other factors include the prompt dissemination of information via the Internet, international pressure, widespread disenchantment against BN and possible royal intervention.
Like a lit candle spurting briefly before its demise, many view the latest incident as a desperate attempt by the Umno-BN government to stop the inevitable.
Razaleigh-Muhyiddin 'dream team'
It is also speculated that turmoil has besieged Umno, with a faction within the party forming a 'dream team' against party leader Abdullah and his deputy, Najib.
“It would reunite two of the biggest rivals Umno has ever seen - Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah. And go beyond that,” said Singapore's bilingual MyPaper in a report on Friday - the day the crackdown was launched.
Former Umno president Mahathir had quit the party in March and vowed to return only when his successor Abdullah is no longer at the helm.
“Mahathir will now reportedly throw his support behind Tengku Razaleigh, the man who came closest to defeating him in an Umno election.
“Muhyiddin, who has publicly said Abdullah should not wait until 2010 to step down, could be Tengku Razaleigh's running mate in this Dream Team.”
However, the report claimed that Muhyiddin has told friends he would be more than happy to step back for Rais Yatim, the veteran foreign minister.
According to the report, the 'dream team' would also include Mahathir’s son Mukhriz, who will be gunning for the Umno Youth chief post in December’s party polls.
“With the support of Mahathir, Muhyiddin and Rais, Tengku Razaleigh will definitely get the minimum number of nominations needed to contest the No 1 post,” said the aide, who was not named.
Quoting sources, MyPaper also reported that Najib was so worried that he sought an appointment to see Mahathir and the duo met early last week.
“There have been no press reports on the meeting, but MyPaper understands that Mahathir made it clear to Najib that he was 'quite committed' to the dream team,” read the report.
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A vigil for 'Saint' Teresa Rahmah Ghazali | Sep 13, 08 11:35pm
A vigil for 'Saint' Teresa Rahmah Ghazali | Sep 13, 08 11:35pm
A sombre mood surrounded the DAP headquarters in Petaling Jaya today when the party held a candlelight vigil for Teresa Kok who was MCPX
arrested under ISA yesterday.
With candles and roses, the vigil kicked off at 7.30pm with about 100 people calling for the release of Kok, who is Seputeh member of parliament and Selangor state exco member.
DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng told the crowd that the candles marked "every brightness and hope that leads Teresa away from the darkness" and "symbolise every single day when she is inside (detention)".
"We know that she is in good spirits and I think we should also be in the same determined spirit that she has demonstrated and we should continue this battle," he said.
Guan Eng, who is also Penang chief minister, further revealed to the crowd that he was given an assurance by the police that Kok was in good hands.
The Bagan MP who spoke to deputy inspector-general of police Ismail Omar earlier tonight said that they had agreed to arrange a visit for Kok's parents to see their daughter on Monday.
"(But) he (Ismail) said he needed some time. He however promised that she has been treated well and whatever she wants, the police will accommodate her. We will hold him to his promise," he added.
According to Guan Eng, the top cop however did not divulge any information on Kok's whereabouts.
Related to nude squat scandal?
Guan Eng also questioned the arrest and related it to a ‘nude squat' video scandal that had happened three years ago, where Kok "had exposed the misdeeds of police abusing their power".
"Is this (the arrest) something to get back at her? We hope that it is not the case," he added.
Yesterday, Kok who is also Kinrara state assemblyperson, was arrested near her house without any specific reasons.
However, political insiders said it was possibly related to a report in Utusan Malaysia, which alleged she was behind a petition to lower the loudspeaker volume for the azan at several mosques.
Latest developmentthatemerged todayshowed that she was arrested for allegedly "causing tension and conflict among races" as mentioned in the arrest notice issued by the Special Branch police.
Kok had denied the allegations and threatened to sue the newspaper and former Selangor Menteri Besar Dr Khir Toyo for making the allegation.
Kok is the first female member of parliament to be detained under the ISA.
The arrested ‘saint'
Veteran DAP leader Lim Kit Siang, who was also present, expressed his shock at Kok's arrest, and wondered aloud how a "political saint" could be arrested.
"A saint among all politicians. Who do you think? Teresa Kok. When a saint is detained, there must be something very wrong with the system in our country," said Kit Siang.
He further took a swipe at Khir for making false allegations against Kok and said that the former Selangor MB was the one who should be arrested instead.
"If any action should be taken, it should be taken against Khir. Otherwise, he should be ready to apologise and admit that he is wrong, especially in this holy month of Ramadan," blasted Kit Siang, drawing cheers from the crowd.
Karpal Singh, who made a late appearance at the vigil, was in high-spirit and took a swipe at Utusan Malaysia.
"There was no basis for Teresa's arrest but Utusan has gone on a rampage," said Karpal, who will be filing a defamation suit against the paper next week for accusing him of "rejecting Islam as the official religion of the country.
The paper however has carried a front-page apology to the DAP leader on Aug 26 and retracted the report, admitting that it was a "grave mistake".
Karpal will nevertheless proceed to sue the Umno-owned daily to prevent it from whipping up racial and religious sentiments in future.
The candlelight vigil ended at 8.15pm with the shouts of "Free Teresa, Abolish ISA".
Watch 8-min video of candlelight vigil outside DAP HQ
arrested under ISA yesterday.
With candles and roses, the vigil kicked off at 7.30pm with about 100 people calling for the release of Kok, who is Seputeh member of parliament and Selangor state exco member.
"We know that she is in good spirits and I think we should also be in the same determined spirit that she has demonstrated and we should continue this battle," he said.
Guan Eng, who is also Penang chief minister, further revealed to the crowd that he was given an assurance by the police that Kok was in good hands.
The Bagan MP who spoke to deputy inspector-general of police Ismail Omar earlier tonight said that they had agreed to arrange a visit for Kok's parents to see their daughter on Monday.
"(But) he (Ismail) said he needed some time. He however promised that she has been treated well and whatever she wants, the police will accommodate her. We will hold him to his promise," he added.
According to Guan Eng, the top cop however did not divulge any information on Kok's whereabouts.
Related to nude squat scandal?
"Is this (the arrest) something to get back at her? We hope that it is not the case," he added.
Yesterday, Kok who is also Kinrara state assemblyperson, was arrested near her house without any specific reasons.
However, political insiders said it was possibly related to a report in Utusan Malaysia, which alleged she was behind a petition to lower the loudspeaker volume for the azan at several mosques.
Latest developmentthatemerged todayshowed that she was arrested for allegedly "causing tension and conflict among races" as mentioned in the arrest notice issued by the Special Branch police.
Kok had denied the allegations and threatened to sue the newspaper and former Selangor Menteri Besar Dr Khir Toyo for making the allegation.
Kok is the first female member of parliament to be detained under the ISA.
The arrested ‘saint'
Veteran DAP leader Lim Kit Siang, who was also present, expressed his shock at Kok's arrest, and wondered aloud how a "political saint" could be arrested.
He further took a swipe at Khir for making false allegations against Kok and said that the former Selangor MB was the one who should be arrested instead.
"If any action should be taken, it should be taken against Khir. Otherwise, he should be ready to apologise and admit that he is wrong, especially in this holy month of Ramadan," blasted Kit Siang, drawing cheers from the crowd.
Karpal Singh, who made a late appearance at the vigil, was in high-spirit and took a swipe at Utusan Malaysia.
The paper however has carried a front-page apology to the DAP leader on Aug 26 and retracted the report, admitting that it was a "grave mistake".
Karpal will nevertheless proceed to sue the Umno-owned daily to prevent it from whipping up racial and religious sentiments in future.
The candlelight vigil ended at 8.15pm with the shouts of "Free Teresa, Abolish ISA".
Watch 8-min video of candlelight vigil outside DAP HQ
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Another minister questions ISA dragnet Sep 14, 08 5:42pm Every time someone is arrested under the Internal Security Act, it gives rise to a perception that the government is unable to charge and convict the person under existing laws, said Human Resources Minister Dr S Subramaniam.
MCPX
"Do we need such a false perception?" asked the MIC secretary-general in a statement today.
Subramaniam said as a government sensitive to the feelings of the people, it cannot be blind to the fact that a significant proportion of the rakyat abhor the ISA and would prefer it not be used.
"We have adequate laws in the country to deal with all forms of errant, irresponsible, and dangerous behaviour. Why not use them?
"The prospect of a person being detained without a chance of being heard and to defend himself is against the grains of present day popular belief," he added.
On Friday, the police detained controversial blogger Raja Petra Kamaruddin, DAP MP Teresa Kok and Sin Chew Daily journalist Tan Hoon Cheng under the security law which provides for detention without trial.
Tan, who penned the report regarding the derogatory remarks made by Umno leader Ahmad Ismail regarding the Chinese community, was released yesterday afternoon.
Home Minister Syed Hamid Albar subsequently said that she was arrested in order to ensure her "personal safety".
Situation causing anxiety
Meanwhile, Subramaniam said the present political situation in the country has caused a lot of anxiety and worry for the people irrespective of race.
"There is an urgent need for everyone irrespective of political backgrounds and ideologies to be acutely aware of the situation and behave responsibly.
"Freedom has to be used responsibly, in order to achieve its full potential. Unbridled freedom in the hands of the irresponsible can lead to anarchy and lead to the demise of the very institution of productive freedom," he said.
"Bloggers like Raja Petra must realise that they cannot use the pathways of freedom available in the cyberworld to insight, provoke and humiliate others without the risk of punitive action being taken against them. Blogging has to become responsible," he added.
Likewise, he said, politicians like Ahmad Ismail should realise that the campaign platforms of a by-election cannot be used to question the rights of any group which has been enshrined in the federal constitution.
"The children of the migrants of yesteryears have done no sin for their fundamental rights to be so questioned and they be decreed to the level of second-class citizens.
"We would have expected that after 50 years of independence we would have overgrown such suspicions and be capable of acting with a greater degree of maturity," he added.
'Anwar's obsession'
Subramaniam also ticked off Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim for trying to "pawn" the entire nation to satisfy his obsession of wanting to become the prime minister.
"The people are fed up of all his antics to destabilise the democratically-elected government by unlawful and questionable means.
"Although there is very little chance of him succeeding in his attempts but the effects of these actions on the daily lives of the people and the economy of the country cannot be denied. He and his supporters should stop such antics immediately," he added.
On the contrary, the minister suggested that opposition alliance Pakatan Rakyat concentrate on administering the states under their control whilst allowing the BN to continue with the task of running the federal government and the states under it’s control.
"He (Anwar) should wait for the next general election to decide whether he could be the prime minister of the country," said Subramaniam.
Anwar, who returned to Parliament after a 10-year absence, has promised to launch a political coup with defections from the ruling coalition.
Another minister questions ISA dragnet Sep 14, 08 5:42pm Every time someone is arrested under the Internal Security Act, it gives rise to a perception that the government is unable to charge and convict the person under existing laws, said Human Resources Minister Dr S Subramaniam.
MCPX
Subramaniam said as a government sensitive to the feelings of the people, it cannot be blind to the fact that a significant proportion of the rakyat abhor the ISA and would prefer it not be used.
"We have adequate laws in the country to deal with all forms of errant, irresponsible, and dangerous behaviour. Why not use them?
"The prospect of a person being detained without a chance of being heard and to defend himself is against the grains of present day popular belief," he added.
Tan, who penned the report regarding the derogatory remarks made by Umno leader Ahmad Ismail regarding the Chinese community, was released yesterday afternoon.
Home Minister Syed Hamid Albar subsequently said that she was arrested in order to ensure her "personal safety".
Situation causing anxiety
Meanwhile, Subramaniam said the present political situation in the country has caused a lot of anxiety and worry for the people irrespective of race.
"There is an urgent need for everyone irrespective of political backgrounds and ideologies to be acutely aware of the situation and behave responsibly.
"Freedom has to be used responsibly, in order to achieve its full potential. Unbridled freedom in the hands of the irresponsible can lead to anarchy and lead to the demise of the very institution of productive freedom," he said.
"Bloggers like Raja Petra must realise that they cannot use the pathways of freedom available in the cyberworld to insight, provoke and humiliate others without the risk of punitive action being taken against them. Blogging has to become responsible," he added.
"The children of the migrants of yesteryears have done no sin for their fundamental rights to be so questioned and they be decreed to the level of second-class citizens.
"We would have expected that after 50 years of independence we would have overgrown such suspicions and be capable of acting with a greater degree of maturity," he added.
'Anwar's obsession'
Subramaniam also ticked off Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim for trying to "pawn" the entire nation to satisfy his obsession of wanting to become the prime minister.
"Although there is very little chance of him succeeding in his attempts but the effects of these actions on the daily lives of the people and the economy of the country cannot be denied. He and his supporters should stop such antics immediately," he added.
On the contrary, the minister suggested that opposition alliance Pakatan Rakyat concentrate on administering the states under their control whilst allowing the BN to continue with the task of running the federal government and the states under it’s control.
"He (Anwar) should wait for the next general election to decide whether he could be the prime minister of the country," said Subramaniam.
Anwar, who returned to Parliament after a 10-year absence, has promised to launch a political coup with defections from the ruling coalition.
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http://malaysiakini.com/news/89683
Law minister threatens to quit over ISA
Beh Lih Yi | Sep 14, 08 2:42pm
De facto Law Minister Zaid Ibrahim today threatened to resign if the government continues to use the Internal Security Act, which allows detention without trial, against any individuals.
MCPX
The outspoken Barisan Nasional politician also called for the immediate release of DAP MP Teresa Kok and controversial blogger Raja Petra Kamaruddin who were arrested under the tough security law last Friday.
"We have a government that commits to laws and reforms, we can't be using old-style politics or resort to creating fear. We have laws and they (the detainees) should be charged in court.
"I'll try to meet with Prime Minister (Abdullah Ahmad Badawi) this week to convey to him my position. If (he considers) my position untenable, I will leave," he told Malaysiakini in a telephone interview from Kota Baru, Kelantan.
The minister, who is a lawyer by training, held a press conference in Kota Baru earlier, where he also spoke on the matter.
Use ISA to fight terror
Zaid, who is the minister in the Prime Minister's Department overseeing legal matters, said ISA should only be used to curb terrorism, which was the reason why it was first enacted.
"The problem with the ISA now is that it is used against certain people, it is a very unjust law," he added.
The ISA is a relic from the British colonial era, used to combat the communist insurgency. The Act earned notoriety after it was repeated invoked by the government to stifle dissent, leading many to call for its abolition.
However, the government has continued to defend the relevance of the draconian law on the grounds of national security.
Commenting further, Zaid said: "I am very sad that people like Teresa (right), whom I know personally, can be seen as a threat. I can't see how a journalist doing her duty, or even Raja Petra, can be seen as a national threat.
"If their statements upset certain people, let the police investigate," the minister said, adding that he did not see the need for the government to use such a "strong-arm tactic" against any individuals.
Zaid, who is the former Kota Baru MP, was made a senator and named as minister in charge of legal affairs during the cabinet reshuffle by premier Abdullah in March.
His appointment was lauded by many quarters, especially within the legal fraternity, as it was seen as a gesture by the prime minister to honour his pledge for judicial reforms.
'A setback to judiciary reforms'
However, Zaid lamented that the latest ISA arrests dealt a blow to his six-month-long task of trying to regenerate the judiciary.
The minister conceded that his views on certain matters do not go down well with his cabinet colleagues.
"I don't want to make it difficult for him (Abdullah). If my views are inconsistent or unsuitable (to that of the cabinet's), I can leave the government.
"It (the crackdown) is a setback (on my work). The government wanted to change certain things, otherwise they don't need me (to be in the cabinet)," he said.
Friday's ISA crackdown began with Raja Petra, 58, who has targeted government figures on his website Malaysia Today. He was detained at 1.10pm.
Tan Hoon Cheng, 33, a senior journalist for the Chinese language Sin Chew Daily, was later arrested at about 8.30pm.
She was detained in connection with her report regarding the derogatory remarks made by an Umno leader against the Chinese community which led to a national uproar.
Close to midnight, DAP MP and Selangor senior state exco Teresa Kok, 43, was detained outside her condominium.
The arrests elicited a round of strong protests from all quarters, including those within the BN component parties.
Tan was released yesterday after being held for less than 24 hours and Home Minister Syed Hamid Albar explained that her detention was "to ensure her personal safety".
Law minister threatens to quit over ISA
Beh Lih Yi | Sep 14, 08 2:42pm
De facto Law Minister Zaid Ibrahim today threatened to resign if the government continues to use the Internal Security Act, which allows detention without trial, against any individuals.
MCPX
The outspoken Barisan Nasional politician also called for the immediate release of DAP MP Teresa Kok and controversial blogger Raja Petra Kamaruddin who were arrested under the tough security law last Friday.
"I'll try to meet with Prime Minister (Abdullah Ahmad Badawi) this week to convey to him my position. If (he considers) my position untenable, I will leave," he told Malaysiakini in a telephone interview from Kota Baru, Kelantan.
The minister, who is a lawyer by training, held a press conference in Kota Baru earlier, where he also spoke on the matter.
Use ISA to fight terror
Zaid, who is the minister in the Prime Minister's Department overseeing legal matters, said ISA should only be used to curb terrorism, which was the reason why it was first enacted.
"The problem with the ISA now is that it is used against certain people, it is a very unjust law," he added.
The ISA is a relic from the British colonial era, used to combat the communist insurgency. The Act earned notoriety after it was repeated invoked by the government to stifle dissent, leading many to call for its abolition.
However, the government has continued to defend the relevance of the draconian law on the grounds of national security.
"If their statements upset certain people, let the police investigate," the minister said, adding that he did not see the need for the government to use such a "strong-arm tactic" against any individuals.
Zaid, who is the former Kota Baru MP, was made a senator and named as minister in charge of legal affairs during the cabinet reshuffle by premier Abdullah in March.
His appointment was lauded by many quarters, especially within the legal fraternity, as it was seen as a gesture by the prime minister to honour his pledge for judicial reforms.
'A setback to judiciary reforms'
However, Zaid lamented that the latest ISA arrests dealt a blow to his six-month-long task of trying to regenerate the judiciary.
The minister conceded that his views on certain matters do not go down well with his cabinet colleagues.
"I don't want to make it difficult for him (Abdullah). If my views are inconsistent or unsuitable (to that of the cabinet's), I can leave the government.
"It (the crackdown) is a setback (on my work). The government wanted to change certain things, otherwise they don't need me (to be in the cabinet)," he said.
Tan Hoon Cheng, 33, a senior journalist for the Chinese language Sin Chew Daily, was later arrested at about 8.30pm.
She was detained in connection with her report regarding the derogatory remarks made by an Umno leader against the Chinese community which led to a national uproar.
Close to midnight, DAP MP and Selangor senior state exco Teresa Kok, 43, was detained outside her condominium.
The arrests elicited a round of strong protests from all quarters, including those within the BN component parties.
Tan was released yesterday after being held for less than 24 hours and Home Minister Syed Hamid Albar explained that her detention was "to ensure her personal safety".
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