Media statement by Gobind Singh Deo in Kuala Lumpur on Friday, 11^th May 2012:

Call to give Najib a stronger government is evidence of BN not committed to reforms

The call by former PM Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad on the people to give Najib a stronger govt to revive ISA is evidence of the fact that BN is not committed to reforms in particular the repeal of archaic and undemocratic laws in Malaysia.

The former PM is quoted to have said Najib had abolished the ISA "fearing the loss of more support" and "succumbing to pressures from the opposition" in an interview with Kwong Wah Daily recently.

The truth finally emerges. It appears Najib isn't moving his reform agenda because he wants to. He is merely doing it to ensure his and his governments own political survival.

This is significant as Najib has continuously said in Parliament that the repeal of the ISA was at the behest of his government. This cannot be true in light of what Tun has now declared.

The rakyat should look over and beyond the so called triumphs Najib boasts his government has achieved. It is quite clear that Najib fears the growing strength of the rakyat and he is therefore playing to the gallery in the hope that he wins bigger support in the next election, only so that UMNO can thereafter move to recapture lost ground.

The fact remains that UMNO is minded to and will revive the ISA or reintroduce laws such as the ISA in future. This threat is dangerously real.

UMNO would have then achieved two victories, which is to have enacted new security laws with the widest of scope to curb amongst others, political dissent under the guise of the repeal of the ISA this session and later reintroduce the draconian ISA when given a stronger mandate by the people.

And it doesn't really help that the PM has thought it fit to remain silent on the matter despite its gravity, right up until now.

* Gobind Singh Deo, MP for Puchong