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Press Statement by Charles Santiago in Klang on Wednesday, 24th September 2008:  Release RPK & stop attack on alternative views I call upon the government to immediately release Raja Petra Kamaruddin, the ruling elite's harshest critique, from detention under the Internal Security Act. Detaining him under the draconian law is a further blow to civil liberties and rights in the country. The two-year detention order signed by Home Minister Dato Seri Syed Hamid Albar could be renewed indefinitely and comes at a time when the government's popularity is sinking fast. Hamid plays God as he has the final word on Raja Petra's detention period. The courts cannot question any detention under the harsh Act, severely undermining and infringing upon democratic rights of detainees. Detention without trial, the primary provision under the ISA, has no role to play in a modern democracy. I vehemently condemn the government's cowardly act to hide behind the veil of preventive laws to silence legal political activities in Malaysia. Raja Petra's detention is part of a crackdown orchestrated by the government of the day to instil fear among the people, who have become highly critical of the corrupt ruling elite. The blogger has a large following. His Malaysia Today site was touted by thousands, who are simply fed-up with the spin doctoring by the local media, as the primary source of alternative news. It was also a blog which carried explosive reports. The online writer is clearly facing the music for his hard-hitting stories, on the government and Abdullah's family and cabinet ministers, which have riveted the nation. His series of reporting implicating Deputy Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak and his wife to the murder of a Mongolian shook the foundation of Najib's powerful regime and questioned the calibre of leaders in the country. It also took a whack on the government's stake on power, resulting in a showdown at the March general election. The ruling National Front government suffered serious humiliation and scrambled about to accept the reality of losing a two third majority in Parliament. But incarcerating Raja Petra will not help with UMNO's endeavours to reassert its authority and power. The government and police force must answer the critical questions raised by the blogger. Failure to do so would only go to show that Raja Petra'a claims are true. Abdullah must initiate an independent investigation on the accusations levelled by Raja Petra against his deputy and other government leaders. It does not help when the premier shuts a blind eye and announces a power transition pact between himself and Najib in a last bid to cling on to his dwindling grip on power. Malaysia is currently faced with a political crisis of the worst kind. Rampant greed for power and money politics among the UMNO and ruling government's component party leaders have isolated the people from BN. Instead of implementing measures to regain the confidence of the people, Abdullah is tightening the noose on dissent in retaliation to the demands by Malaysians for greater rights, transparency, governance, and accountability Abdullah's handling of the situation is taking a toll on the country's economy. Markets are down, investors are jittery and stock analysts are nervous. But Abdullah and the government are solely focused on trying to re-organise their crumbling hold on the country at whatever cost. Malaysians from all walks of life have a pressing responsibility now-we must come together to denounce the use of the ISA and clearly send a message to the government that using preventive laws to put a lid on dissent and stay in power is simply not acceptable. * Charles Santiago, MP for Klang