Beh Lih Yi | Sep 14, 08 2:42pm Malaysiakini Report
De facto Law Minister Zaid Ibrahim today threatened to resign if the government continued to use the Internal Security Act, which he described as ‘unjust’.
The outspoken Barisan Nasional politician also called for the immediate release of DAP MP Teresa Kok and controversial blogger Raja Petra Kamaruddin who were held under the security law which provides for detention without trial.
“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) can be charged in court.
“I am trying 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 same matter.
Use ISA to fight terror
Zaid, who is the minister in the Prime Minister’s Department overseeing legal matters, said his position on the ISA is that the law should only be used to curb terrorism, the reason why it was 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 which used the law to battle the communist insurgency. The Act earned notoriety after it was 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 law on the grounds of national security.
Commenting further, Zaid said: “I am very sad that people like Teresa (right), who 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."
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 judiciary 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.
In relation to the concept of collective responsibility, the minister acknowledged 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 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, who has targeted government figures on his website Malaysia Today. He was detained at 1.10pm.
Tan Hoon Cheng, a 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 was detained outside her condominium.
The arrests elicited a round of strong protests from all quarters, including those within the BN component parties.
Journalist 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 safety."
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Well said Zaid!
At least we now know there is at least 1 educated person in the Cabinet who is able to tell between right and wrong.
Lets see how many more conscientious objectors there are ! those who are courageous enough to take a stand for equality and justice!
Stand up and be counted!
Dear All
No matter who says what now, Teresa is in there; God knows till when.
Though we now see many others in the BN political divide now speaking with a guilty conscience state of their past doings or inaction on the ISA and other repressive laws here in Malaysia, many of us the rakyat begin to wonder …”why now and not much much earlier?”.
Is it the PRU12 woke up all these wily, self-centred politicians from the BN political divide that the rakyat’s message is clear & loud?
In summary, there can be no further loss, now that these wily BN-affiliated politicians are at their rock bottom state. Just being daring now to say openly say & go against all these ills by the BN government is the only HOPE for them to make a comeback. Others who may utter some “great” words now may be also be trying to save their skin. To say or not, being the defacto law Minister, is a ahrd decision. We know how Zaid Ibrahim’s position. Deep down inside and against his social conscience, he has no choice but to say against the use of the ISA, but for political survival, he has to be toeing the BN line.
Kudos to Zaid, for being so brave to the extent of sacrificing his political career. To right a wrong or wrongs is divine.
It’s time more caring politicians, from both side of the political divide, should now stand up and be counted for the rakyat if they profess to represent the rakyat in their political motto,”To serve the rakyat”; failing which you should not be in politics at all. Should you not stand up and be counted in for this moment of truth, I am sure the rakyat would mark your absence in the next PRU13.
My call to all of them is, “Die with dignity if there is a cause to fight for”.