5 Mei 2009
Kepada
YB Dato’ Seri Hishammuddin bin Tun Hussein
Menteri Dalam Negeri
Aras 12, Blok D1, Parcel D,
Pusat Pentadbiran Kerajaan Persekutuan,
62502, PUTRAJAYA.
Faks: 03-8889 1758
Emel: [email protected]
YB Dato’ Seri,
Minta Perjumpaan Untuk Membincangkan Isu Penahanan ISA Bersama Dengan Wakil Rakyat Selangor
Saya bagi pihak Ahli Parlimen dan ADUN Selangor ingin mengucapkan tahniah kepada YB Dato’ Seri untuk menjawat Menteri Dalam Negeri, satu jawatan yang amat penting dalam cabinet.
Kami menyambut baik kenyataan YAB Perdana Menteri, Dato’ Seri Najib Tun Razak untuk mengkaji semula Akta Keselamatan Dalam Negeri (ISA).
Selain itu, kami juga merasa lega untuk melihat Law Reform Committee telahpun diwujudkan untuk tujuan ini.
Justeru itu, saya bagi pihak para wakil Selangor bersama dengan isteri kepada YB Manoharan, ADUN Kota Alam Shah ingin minta satu perjumpaan dengan YB Dato’ Seri untuk membincangkan perkara yang berkenaan dengan penahanan ISA dan juga keadaan YB Manoharan.
Kami amat berbesar hati sekiranya kami dapat berjumpa dengan YB Dato’ Seri dalam minggu ini ataupun minggu depan sebelum Lembaga Penasihat ISA mengkaji semula penahanan ISA ke atas YB Manoharan pada 18 & 19 Mei 2009.
Kerjasama YB Dato’ Seri adalah amat dihargai dan didahulukan terima kasih.
Yang benar,
YB Teresa Kok
Ahli Parlimen Seputeh,
EXCO Kanan Kerajaan Selangor
It would be wishful thinking if anything concrete or positive can materialise in the requested meeting on the ISA between new Home Minister Hishamuddin and Selangor law-makers led by YB Teresa. At the very onset, the BN has said time and again that the ISA would not be repealed as the draconian law is a ‘passport’ for them to remain in power against political dissent. One can only hope for the best and the ‘1Malaysia’ concept should come into play.
ISA can only be invoked should there be emergency rule in the country, like what happened after the May 13, 1969 race riots. People are more educated nowadays and whatever excuse the government use in justifying the use of ISA will only backfire on them one day. No, as long as there is racial politics like the one being practised by the major component parties of the ruling party, there will be no genuine racial harmony in the country. The ISA should be suspended for an indefinite period or, better still, be abolished. It is simply not in concert with a civilised society. It is a cruel law, one that has caused so much misery and sufferings not only to the detained persons but also to his/her immediate family members who have nothing to do with the perceived offence committed.
Being an ex-ISA detainee, YB Teresa Kok is the most ideal person to lead Selangor law-makers to meet with the new Home Minister Hishammuddin. It’s now the 21st century and yet you still find our so-called democratically elected leaders clinging on to this cruel law to protect their political interests. If the government is run by fair and good leaders then there is no need to resort to ISA in order to silence their critics. Civilian Law is enough to deal with any law-breakers.
The people criticizing the government is just like the bosses reprimanding their employees for making glaring mistakes. Or do our federal leader think they are king of this land?
LATEST: The 13 ISA detainees including the 3 remaining Hindraf leaders, M.Manoharan, P. Uthayakumar and K. Vasantha Kumar will be released soon according to news reports quoting Home Minister Hishamuddin as saying that. If it is indeed true, then it’s good news to everyone especially to the families of the detainees and advocates of the anti-ISA.
So what I perceived earlier about their ISA detentions especially that of DAP YB M. Manaharan, is not accurate and I happily stand to be corrected. With his impending release from Kamunting prison, YB Manaharan can now physically and dutifully serve his constituents in Kota Shah Alam to the best of his ability. Hope his release is not subject to conditions detrimental to his freedom of movement and speech.
The next move in the arranged meeting with the Home Minister is to ask for the archaic and draconic ISA law to be totally repealed once and for all for the good of the people and the nation. Good luck with the Pakatan delegation of law-makers!