Interesting call from Param to arrest Dr M under ISA

From Malaysiakini:

Give former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad a taste of his own medicine by arresting him under the draconian Internal Security Act (ISA), which allows detention without trial.
This was the terse message from former top United Nations official Param Cumaraswamy in response to a speech Mahathir had made last week in Johor Baru.Param, the former UN rapporteur for the independence of judges and lawyers, alleged that Mahathir’s remarks in his May 17 speech “not only bordered on sedition but, applying his own standards, qualifies him for detention under the ISA”.

In his address to about 1,000 people in Johor, Mahathir had reportedly cited the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) group’s list of demands contained in a memorandum and asked if anyone knew the implications of those demands.“What does it say? Malaysia for Malaysians! This is the reality of the present situation. If we do not speak up, if we choose to keep quiet, we will lose our rights and the other races will take over” the Malaysian Insider news portal quoted him as saying.“When that happens, it will be like Singapore. Do you think we will still have control?” said Mahathir in his speech.While stressing that he himself was against the use of the ISA, Param said that “applying the principle of equality before the law” would dictate that the home minister consider invoking the ISA and detain Mahathir for his remarks “before he does further damage”.According to Param, he had written to Mahathir in December 1987 to inquire as to the reasons for the detention of his political opponents under the tough security law during ‘Ops Lalang’ crackdown.He needs ‘rehabilitation’ in KamuntingIn that operation, Mahathir had more than 100 political rivals and social activists detained and three newspapers shut down in the wake of a bitter split within his Umno party and tensions stirred up over the issue of Chinese education.“In December 1987, I wrote to Dr Mahathir when he was prime minister inquiring why he resorted to detention of his political opponents under the ISA.

His response in a letter dated December 2, 1987 was:‘If I have to resort to the ISA it is because I am forced to by the irresponsibility of those who do not appreciate my liberal attitude and seem bent on destabilising this country. My responsibility is towards the vast majority who feel threatened by the race-baiting indulged in by a frustrated minority unable to impose their thinking on this country.’”Recounting this, Param said if those persons were detained under the ISA during ‘Ops Lalang’ because they indulged in ‘race-baiting’ which Mahathir felt threatened the majority of Malaysians, then “the same criteria could now be applied to Mahathir for his speech in Johor”.“No longer able to impose his minority will on the government out of frustration, he appears to have resorted to racial tactics which could destabilise the country,” said Param.“A dose of his own medicine which he administered to the 106 (individuals) in 1987 should be in order to rehabilitate him in Kamunting (camp),” he added.

Time for Sabahans to go for change

Is Sabah ready to join Pakatan Rakyat? Some interesting statements so far with two outstanding examples:

1. “We (Sabah BN MPs) have never jumped. We can move by simply forming a new party. Then we can decide where we want to sit…here or there”, he said, gesturing in the direction of the opposition and backbenchers. – Datuk Seri Ghapur Salleh (MP for Kalabakan).

2. There is no harm in Barisan Nasional MPs in Sabah defecting to the Opposition. What’s the point of moving to a terrace house if one is already living in a bungalow? However, for some of us, there seems to be no pleasure in living in this bungalow. What’s the point of living in a bungalow if one has to sleep beside the toilet? - Datuk Anifah Aman (MP for Kimanis).

The winds of change is moving in the direction of the "Land below the Wind" to end over four decades of discrimination and marginalization of Sabahans in Malaysia.

Go Sabah, Go!!

Guan Eng's Press statement

Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak Convinces No One By Saying That The Government Is Liberal And That Sedition Charges Against Blogger Raja Petra Kamarudin Is Not Politically Motivated When RPK Was Charged After Najib And His Wife Objected Against His Allegations Linking Them To The Altatunya Murder Trial.

Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak convinces no one by saying that the government is liberal and that sedition charges against blogger Raja Petra Kamarudin is not politically motivated when RPK was charged after Najib and his wife objected against his allegations linking them to the Altatunya Shaariibuu murder trial. With RPK being charged so soon after both of them objected to so called slanderous remarks online, the public can not be faulted for thinking that these charges were a directed act of vengeance. On 2 May 2008 the Deputy Prime Minister’s press secretary Datuk Tengku Sariffuddin Tengku Ahmad wrote in a letter to Malaysia Today that Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak will not hesitate to seek legal redress over unfounded and unfair allegations made against him in the case involving murdered Mongolian woman Altantuya. This follows Najib’s wife statement on 1 May against slanderous remarks against her. Despite such warnings of civil action of defamation, Najib has still not sued RPK who instead faced criminal charges of sedition.This latest infringement of rights may be the beginning of Barisan Nasional’s crackdown on media freedom. This will also set a frightening precedent against online expression that will further erode media freedom in this country despite promises by the BN government. DAP condemns the arrest of blogger Raja Petra Kamaruddin, the editor of the internet news portal Malaysia Today, under the Sedition Act, and demands for his immediate release as well as withdrawal of charges. DAP hopes that all journalists and media associations can come out in solidarity and support for RPK by condemning RPK’s sedition charges.

We know that Raja Petra - who is charged with implying in a post on April 25 that Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and his wife were involved in the murder of a Mongolian model Altantuya Shaariibuu - has been one of the vocal critics of the BN government and its cronies. On the same day the posting was made (April 25) Information Minister Datuk Ahmad Shabery Cheek told the press that media freedom should not be feared by anyone, including the ruling party, as it could also be the source of strength for the government and the country. Ahmad Shabery even said that the reform announced by Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi recently such as the setting up of a judicial commission and introducing an Anti-Corruption Commission could be implemented more effectively in a free media environment. Even Home Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar promised that he would review the country's repressive media laws to boost press freedom. “I have told my officers that I want to have a re-look at the Printing Presses and Publications Act so that we can move with the times,” he said, according to the Star on April 20. Syed Hamid went further when he said, “We need press freedom in order for us to have a check and balance in government. We are not trying to control you but we want everyone to contribute to the nation-building process. Why should we let ourselves (government) become unpopular by having such regulations?”

The sad truth about this deteriorating situation pertaining to our press and other media is due to Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi’s too many promises which he failed to deliver since he became Prime Minister in late 2003. After the recent political tsunami on 8 March 2008, it is now proven that talk is cheap. Such empty promises also demonstrate that BN is not capable of reform, that BN can never accept criticisms and will always resort to repressive laws against the interest of the people. Another anti-freedom attitude displayed by BN leaders is when Najib yesterday (May 7) inferred that the Attorney-General can decide whether action can taken against DAP chairman Karpal Singh for questioning the transfer and reappointment of the Perak Islamic Religious Affairs Department (JAIP) director. Malaysia is facing international condemnation and widespread public anger for charging RPK.

Najib is strongly advised not to apply the same tactics of sedition used towards RPK on Karpal who is the National Chair of DAP. When criticisms are perceived as threatening stability and public order, this means the BN government will never ever learn from the lesson of the March 8 political tsunami. While the voters are giving BN a second chance, its leaders are more interested in bullying the voice of conscience and the voice of the oppressed. DAP demands that BN government immediately stop harassing bloggers, journalists and federal opposition leaders and supporters who are merely acting as good citizens in exposing wrongdoings of government leaders.