Media Statement (2) by Lim Kit Siang in Petaling
Jaya on Friday, 12nd September 2008:
ISA for RPK and show-cause letters to
three newspapers while 3-year Umno suspension for Ahmad Ismail – is
this the Abdullah justice and rule of law?
The detention of blogger Raja Petra
Kamaruddin (RPK) under the Internal Security Act (ISA) and the
show-cause letters to three
newspapers, Sin Chew Daily, the Sun and Suara Keadilan why action should
not be taken against them over their news coverage on a number of
political issues must be condemned by all Malaysians concerned about
human rights and democracy.
These actions make a mockery of the claims of the Abdullah
administration to usher in a more open and democratic society under a
just rule of law.
It shows the administration's utter cynicism and Machiavellian politics
in unblocking RPK's news portal Malaysia Today after a
two-week censorship only to arrest RPK under the ISA in less than 24
hours.
The unblocking of Malaysia Today was made to demonstrate the country's
commitment and allegiance to the Multimedia Super Corridor (MSC) Bill of
Guarantees to the world of no Internet censorship but it is just naive
for the government to think that the world can be fooled by such
subterfuge – as by detaining RPK and taking him out of public
circulation, the Malaysian Government has effectively blocked off
Malaysia Today and violated the "no internet censorship" Bill of
Guarantee!
The detention of RPK had only deepened the multiple crisis of confidence
besetting the Abdullah premiership.
"ISA for RPK and show-cause letters to three newspapers while
3-year Umno suspension for Ahmad Ismail, the Umno Bukit Bendera division chief
– is this the Abdullah justice and rule of law?" is the universal
response and question of Malaysians today.
RPK has clearly become the victim of a new power play in Umno in
post-March 8 general election.
It heralds a larger crackdown against criticism, dissent and diversity
of views as RPK's ISA detention and the action against the three
newspapers will open the floodgates for a new repression in Malaysia.
Who are next on the line to be victims of the Abdullah crackdown and
will it be reminiscent of the 1987 Operation Lalang?
*
Lim
Kit Siang, DAP
Parliamentary leader & MP for Ipoh Timor
http://dapmalaysia.org