Media Statement by Tony Pua in Petaling Jaya on Sunday, 3^rd May 2009:

Avoid “unnecessary by-elections”, release Manoharan and all other ISA detainees immediately

The new Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak, has just 2 weeks ago declared that “too much time, energy and ringgit are being spent on by-elections that are actually unnecessary. He had added that there had been too much “politicking in our country when right now we should focus on recovering our economy and taking care of the people’s interests and to move forward for the sake of our country and take Malaysia to a higher level of success”.

The DAP calls upon the Home Affairs Minister, Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein to release M Manoharan, the duly elected state assemblyman for Kota Alam Shah in Selangor together with all others who have been detained under the draconian Internal Security Act (ISA).

M Manoharan's inability to provide the appropriate level of service to his constituents since the last general elections has resulted in him issuing a statement contemplating resignation in order for his “constituents to re-elect their new representative who will be better able to serve them, and who will be able to physically attend all the sittings of the Selangor state legislative assembly and matters arriving there from.”

The DAP cannot but commiserate with the helplessness and dilemma felt by our fellow elected colleague. We also salute his selfless nature for his willingness to give up his position in the interest of his constituents.

However, if there is any by-election which is “unnecessary” which causes “too much time, energy and ringgit” to be spent and distracts the country from facing the current economic challenges, then this will be absolutely it, for the Barisan Nasional (BN) government itself has forced the resignation by exercising the ISA which allows for detention without trial. It is a by-election that the DAP wishes not to have, unless the BN government is insistent on holding it.

In the case of the latter, will we then similarly hear Datuk Seri Najib openly state that BN and Gerakan will also not be contesting the by-election since it is already held by Pakatan Rakyat?

Hence, it is of utmost urgency that Datuk Seri Hishammuddin releases Manoharan, the remaining Hindraf detainees as well as all other detainees from the Kamunting Detention Centre immediately to avoid having this “unnecessary” by-election.

Moreover, Datuk Seri Najib in his inaugural speech has already admitted the irrelevance of the ISA as it stands today as well as the need for the law to be reformed. Therefore, it would make no sense for the Home Affairs Minister to continue detaining Malaysians under a law which all parties have agreed is in need of an overhaul.

By doing so, all parties can then concentrate our energy on reviving our flagging economy hit by the global financial crisis.

* Tony Pua Kiam Wee, DAP National Publicity Secretary & MP for Petaling Jaya Utara