BY ZAINAH ANWAR
I was once asked by a magazine interviewer what I would do if I were Prime Minister for one day. My instantaneous reply was “Repeal the ISA.”
That such a law remains on our statute books, and continues to be abused to this day is evidence that when those in authority are given the right to detain citizens without trial, the temptation to abuse this law against your political enemies is too hard to resist.
It also breeds laziness of mind as it is so much easier to incarcerate someone with a stroke of the pen rather than carry out painstaking investigation and research to build up a case beyond reasonable doubt and prove it successfully in a court of law.
But what struck me about this recent round of ISA arrest is the widespread public outrage on its use from the most unlikely of critics.
Change is for real in this country. That Sin Chew Daily reporter Tan Hoon Cheng was released within 24 hours of her detention and MP Teresa Kok within a week showed that the Government’s use of the ISA is no longer tenable post-March 8.
In the past, those opposed to the ISA represented discordant voices in society. But this time, it is those who publicly spoke out in unequivocal support of the ISA and the detentions who appear discordant to the general mood of public outrage at the injustice done.
Clear message
Home Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar was put on the defensive and ridiculed for his statement that Tan was detained in order to protect her life.
The Minister in charge of religion, Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, stood out as a hardliner in government when he put the blame on those detained for “ignoring racial and religious sensitivities” of the country.
How much Malaysia has changed since March 8. At least nine Cabinet ministers from all major component parties felt compelled to break ranks and criticise the use of the ISA or to at least express caution. One resigned as a matter of principle.
Party leaders outside the Cabinet also spoke out strongly against the arrest of an award-winning journalist, a popular MP and a relentless blogger.
The overwhelming message from Cabinet members and Barisan Nasional parties is clearly that the days of using the ISA injudiciously against one’s political enemies are over.
Most have called for a review of the ISA to stop the abuses and to limit its application to acts of terrorism — as was its original intent to deal with threats of organised violence from an underground communist insurgency.
That an array of government leaders felt the need to publicly distance themselves from the ISA arrests just shows how much the ground has shifted in Malaysian politics.
Political leaders must now begin to tread where the rakyat wants to take them. Malaysians clearly demand that guilt or innocence must be proven in a court of law.
Many Barisan Nasional leaders are aware that to continue to disregard public opinion may just be the kiss of death for the party.
But old habits die hard. It boggles the mind why police investigators did not check their facts first before they arrested a journalist who was doing her job in reporting a speech made at an event, and an MP who had vehemently denied the public accusations made against her by the former Mentri Besar of Selangor, Datuk Mohd Khir Toyo, and supported by an article in Utusan Malaysia.
All Mohd Khir, the police, Utusan Malaysia and others who lodged police reports against Kok and incited hatred against her could have done was to just check the facts.
The authorities could have easily calmed public opinion by calling up the two mosques involved, just as Malaysiakini did in order to verify the facts.
As the chairman of Masjid Bandar Kinrara said, Kok was not at all involved in the residents’ petition that the loudspeakers be toned down during religious ceramahs. In fact, the petition was handed over by the residents, not Kok, to Umno’s Seri Serdang state assemblyman Mohd Satim Diman and the mosque committee in February. She was given a copy only after March 8.
A simple check to verify facts with Masjid Kota Damansara officials would have revealed that lightning struck their new PA system and thus they could not amplify the azan. The borrowed amplifier also did not work, thus the silence, not because some non-Muslims pressured them to stop the public call to pray or that the Selangor state government gave in to Kok’s demands that loudspeakers not be used for the azan.
So what stretch of logic concluded that it was Kok who posed a potential threat to national security for “racial incitement” and needed to be detained under the ISA?
That such gross miscarriage of justice could take place against not just the common person, but an MP who won with the largest majority in the last election reveals just why this government has lost public trust and support. Likewise, it would have been wiser to let Raja Petra Kamaruddin who is already charged for sedition and criminal defamation to have his day in court than to turn him into a hero.
In the end, instead of protecting national interest, the Barisan Nasional government has been shown yet again to have acted against its own interest.
For a government that has for long ruled by fiat and seldom felt it owed the public an explanation for its policies and actions, these are hard times. To defend what is good and right in spite of public criticism is leadership, but to defend what is bad and wrong in spite of public opprobrium is stupidity.
There is a new Malaysia out there. The old ways of doing things just won’t do any more.
That some key leaders in PAS today are appearing to be more reasonable and open-minded than some Umno leaders say something about how March 8 has impacted the moderates in the Islamist party and their view of ethnicity and religion.
Many of them, such as Kota Raja MP Dr Siti Mariah Mahmud and Shah Alam MP Khalid Samad, won because of support from the Chinese and Indian voters.
They know that to keep this support base which they won by default because of the widespread public repudiation of Barisan Nasional, they must begin to serve the interests of these communities.
The more they work together, the more trust and confidence they will build. Already DAP MPs are breaking fast with the Muslims in their constituencies.
Building bridges
Khalid made a point to visit a church and extend a hand of friendship soon after the election. They are breaking barriers and building bridges to promote better ties.
The Malays are willing to give the DAP a chance and the non-Muslims are willing to give PAS a chance. Thus the chorus of voices condemning the use of the ISA against those who were building bridges rather than those bent at destroying those bridges with inflammatory falsehoods.
That the two mosque officials chose to speak out rather than allow untruths to fester, that Dr Siti Mariah, a PAS MP, had lodged a police report in defence of Kok against Mohd Khir, are indicators that politicians bent on using race and religion to incite public opinion do so at a cost to their party’s reputation in the public eye.
What is clear is that all the major parties are grappling internally on their mission and vision in the midst of a changing political climate.
Do they have the energy and the clear-mindedness needed to reform their parties and follow the path of change demanded by the voters or will they remain stuck in a time tunnel of language and context whose sell-by date has long expired?
Such polarising politicians might want to portray themselves as champions of their race and religion in order to win party elections, but they will be the cause of their party’s downfall in the general elections.
It is the responsibility of all Malaysians who love this country and have none other to call home to make sure that such politicians do not win the day.
Teresa,
Did you see this beautiful picture of your goodself in the Inside Cover of Catholic Asian News, Oct 2008 issue?
Take a look here and transfer it to your blog.
A month has gone by and subsequent week will follow along.
The question of changes has not follow along the resolution that has been brought up by the opposition coalitions party and hence then will give a leverage to the development of the current dominant party government.
One must say despite the opposition by the people in within the Malaysia still there is not a shimmering doubt, fear or wavering in the government to curb the initiation of ISA which remain the detention of the Raja Petra Kamarudin the most prominent blogger that put heat and pressure to the government on the issue of affairs of corruption, cover up and racist preferences. Apart from that the Hindraf 5 that have been innocently being force to submit to retention on similar count of ISA.
Even the propose take over the government has been delay over the rules of economical uncertainty and ISA that have causes the ground of opposite coalitions to rest.
Fight has been put up in the people to express their view but to no avail.
Opposition party has render this issues to a very success has gain quite a substantial support therein.
Movements on ISA, HINDRAF and Bar Council on the respective voice of their disagreement were being mooted and yet there is not a barge from the government to conform to the satisfaction and publics wishes.
Major press and blogger has voice their respective view in pen or writing and yet the pressure is not being going thru to have a revolution it is view or understanding.
Even the UMNO Supreme Council meeting which decides that transitional of power on PM to his deputy is sort of an temporary setback as to quiet down it own party intensity of losing in popularity and the mismanagement of the government.
So if HARI RAYA PUASA is a serenity month of getting all the race and nation to interact and come to one let it be everyday a HARI RAYA as to preserve the condition of peace and joy of this seasonal festival. If God is the one that preserve the unity of human being in kindness and from division let it be this day on daily basis be a holy day to conserve the good nature of human being ill respect of race and cultural sentiment with common majority living in tolerant and love.
But no, in all the goodness there is always a few fraction of the population that is always reside in the evil of the covertness of the devil to come deceive, divide and destroy to achieve their selfish status quo gain.
So what next?… the dissection within the political fight and disturbance within the higher ground, this play does not as a matters to the people or majority of the public at large. We as the average people in Malaysia are more consent of the daily meal, or prices affect that influence the “giffen” goods as a whole. Prices of sugar, salt, flour and oil that have impact on the daily consumption. Electricity and water consumption and consumer index variables which also had an indirect impact to the cost of the transportation that had adverse effect on the totality of the costing of the economical rejuvenation. The employment rate or number of jobs that have sustained to feed the Malaysians.
What are we going to do? For the politicians that has been elected and appointed?
Even the voice of the people voice out very strong and example of the newspapers of the world renounce the action of the government of the unjust and condemnation of ISA and freedom of human right. Still the authorian rules persist. As pointed in report of our ISA in the relevant news all over the world. Which may causes and adverse perception in our lovely country Malaysia and the government in it?
Reuter UK: Malaysia blogger in jail over sedition charges
http://uk.reuters.com/article/internetNews/idUKKLR29580020080506
CNN.Com Asia: Malaysian blogger faces jail for sedition
http://edition.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/asiapcf/05/06/malaysia.blogger.ap/
International Freedom of Expression Exchange: (SEAPA/IFEX) – Malaysia has sentenced a prominent blogger who had been charged under the tough Internal Security Act (ISA) to two years’ imprisonment, according to media reports.
http://www.ifex.org/en/content/view/full/97179/
Committee to protect Journalists News Alert 2008 New York: Malaysian blogger jailed for two years under security act
http://www.cpj.org/news/2008/asia/malaysia23sep08na.html
New Zealand Herald: Malaysian blogger jailed for insulting Islam
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/news/article.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=10533807
Yahoo News Philippines: Malaysian blogger jailed for 2 years
http://ph.news.yahoo.com/ap/20080923/tap-as-malaysia-blogger-jailed-2nd-ld-wr-b3c65ae.html
Guardian.Co UK: Malaysian blogger jailed for inciting racial tensions
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/sep/23/malaysia.blogging
Reporter without Borders: Blogger Kickdefella released
http://www.rsf.org/article.php3?id_article=28623
USA Today: Malaysian blogger jailed over article
http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2008-05-06-malaysia-blog_N.htm
Japan Today: Malaysian blogger placed under 2-year detention for insulting Islam
http://www.japantoday.com/category/world/view/malaysian-blogger-placed-under-2-year-detention-for-insulting-islam
ABC News: Malaysian Blogger Charged With Sedition
http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/wireStory?id=4793679
Asian News Network: Malaysian blogger gets two-year jail term
http://www.asianewsnet.net/news.php?id=1688&sec=1
Asia Media: MALAYSIA: Blogger Raja Petra charged with sedition
http://www.asiamedia.ucla.edu/article.asp?parentid=91893
The UN Refugee Agency: Malaysian blogger charged with criminal defamation
http://www.unhcr.org/refworld/category,COI,,,MYS,48a5754433,0.html
… And etc.
What are we going to do?
It will and still remains this current situation despite promises and sweet talk being apprehended.
We the people are not MOVING any where? So what MUST we do? … Any remedy to this incinerated resolution?
A month has gone by and subsequent week will follow along.
The question of changes has not follow along the resolution that has been brought up by the opposition coalitions party and hence then will give a leverage to the development of the current dominant party government.
One must say despite the opposition by the people in within the Malaysia still there is not a shimmering doubt, fear or wavering in the government to curb the initiation of ISA which remain the detention of the Raja Petra Kamarudin the most prominent blogger that put heat and pressure to the government on the issue of affairs of corruption, cover up and racist preferences. Apart from that the Hindraf 5 that have been innocently being force to submit to retention on similar count of ISA.
Even the propose take over the government has been delay over the rules of economical uncertainty and ISA that have causes the ground of opposite coalitions to rest.
Fight has been put up in the people to express their view but to no avail.
Opposition party has render this issues to a very success has gain quite a substantial support therein.
Movements on ISA, HINDRAF and Bar Council on the respective voice of their disagreement were being mooted and yet there is not a barge from the government to conform to the satisfaction and publics wishes.
Major press and blogger has voice their respective view in pen or writing and yet the pressure is not being going thru to have a revolution it is view or understanding.
Even the UMNO Supreme Council meeting which decides that transitional of power on PM to his deputy is sort of an temporary setback as to quiet down it own party intensity of losing in popularity and the mismanagement of the government.
So if HARI RAYA PUASA is a serenity month of getting all the race and nation to interact and come to one let it be everyday a HARI RAYA as to preserve the condition of peace and joy of this seasonal festival. If God is the one that preserve the unity of human being in kindness and from division let it be this day on daily basis be a holy day to conserve the good nature of human being ill respect of race and cultural sentiment with common majority living in tolerant and love.
But no, in all the goodness there is always a few fraction of the population that is always reside in the evil of the covertness of the devil to come deceive, divide and destroy to achieve their selfish status quo gain.
So what next?… the dissection within the political fight and disturbance within the higher ground, this play does not as a matters to the people or majority of the public at large. We as the average people in Malaysia are more consent of the daily meal, or prices affect that influence the “giffen” goods as a whole. Prices of sugar, salt, flour and oil that have impact on the daily consumption. Electricity and water consumption and consumer index variables which also had an indirect impact to the cost of the transportation that had adverse effect on the totality of the costing of the economical rejuvenation. The employment rate or number of jobs that have sustained to feed the Malaysians.
What are we going to do? For the politicians that has been elected and appointed?
Even the voice of the people voice out very strong and example of the newspapers of the world renounce the action of the government of the unjust and condemnation of ISA and freedom of human right. Still the authorian rules persist. As pointed in report of our ISA in the relevant news all over the world. Which may causes and adverse perception in our lovely country Malaysia and the government in it?
… and etc.
What are we going to do?
It will and still remains this current situation despite promises and sweet talk being apprehended.
We the people are not MOVING any where? So what MUST we do? … Any remedy to this incinerated resolution?
Syed Hamid must have copied from Jordan, to lock women up for their own safety from ‘Honorable Killing,’ from muslim husband and relatives. Gosh, he forgot, you and Tan are non-muslims, not subjected to this extremist’s behavior.
Repercussion and mocking away the solution to the problem. I think so with this Raya Seasonal festival open house in the Prime Minister Abdullah quarters.
Doesn’t he, Abdullah realize that the sediment and sentiment of the “rakyat” are so bitter and full of unsatisfaction to that extent they have to overrule and pull their way to the palace of happiness and joy into that celebration seasonal circus of actors and actresses of Minister?
The people is in pain and finding a various mean as to reach the Prime Minister attention so that the suffering of the circumstances will be reduce and in control to relieve the agony of the conditions. They seek him; they participate and anticipate and wait for his arrival and was thus hindered and rejected.
The next step of sociological condition of this action will generally if not being voice out will resort to a violence and act of convulsion as to express attention. Property will get damage and people will get hurt to that extent. So one should believe that the way to ease the tension of the activation is to meet up, find and come to an appropriate mean of settlement ways to conclude the problems that have reside deep in the heart and soul of the people at large both young, old and raciest in respect of the cultural and background.
The sign of such condition will have been shown in the: The Star Online Monday October 6; PM disappointed with Hindraf supporters.
http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/10/6/nation/20081006200047&sec=nation
The tension is rule, the bell has ring, and the battle has been stir up. The only hope is that the people are depending on the opposition coalition party to voice out their dissatisfaction of the people when the adjourned of the parliament comes in session very soon. If this hope is being oppressed then the “rakyat” will have no other mean but to ignite a “coup” in bringing order to the nation and governing in that act of rebellious to a new country reform.
Say it as a reformation, seeking independence, resorting to freedom; whatever mean to express the suffering of the people in silent majority has to be concretely tame and meet their needs.
Without resolution to this demand of the peoples. The Malaysian will continue flying it flag upside down as a sign of “emergency” in summary.
I wonder when the flying of the sign will be lifted up.
We the people have to think and decide…
Well, Malaysia is not Hindustani film genre nation. No wonder you dont get a chance of becoming PM