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The Internal Security Act (ISA) Is Not The Answer To The Diesel Shortage Crisis Nor Cover-up The Need For Datuk Shafie Apdal To Bear Full Responsibility By Resigning For His Policy Failures And Incompetence Press Statement by Lim Guan Eng (Petaling Jaya, Monday): DAP disagrees with Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Radzi Sheikh Ahmad suggestion to use the ISA to deter those smugglers and others whom the government blames for causing the diesel shortage crisis. The ISA can never be the answer to the diesel shortage crisis nor cover-up the need for Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Datuk Shafie Apdal to bear full responsibility by resigning for his policy failures and incompetence.   Why have Ministers not suggested that the ISA be used against corruption and contractors who fail to perform such as those involved in the leak on Parliament building that caused Parliament to abandon its meeting? Clearly the ISA is relied on by the government not because it benefits the people but it suits them to hide their mistakes.  If the ISA is so powerful a magic weapon, then there will be no problems faced by Malaysians. When are Ministers going to stop using the ISA to solve their problems and hide their failures such as– against illegal racers, speeding and drink drivers to reduce accident rates or against those who dirty toilets?   There is no doubt that the severe diesel shortages that has caused in disruption transportation and affected our country’s economic performance. Such mismanagement of the diesel shortage crisis is unforgivable as it has not only given a bad image to an oil-exporting country like Malaysia running out of diesel. More importantly it has resulted in unnecessary financial losses both to transport operators and businesses.  A Minister is elected to serve and bring benefits to the public. If his incompetence and policy failures cause losses to the public and the country then he should bear full responsibility by resigning. In this case there is clearly a policy failure by the Ministry of Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry as not only has the May quota for diesel has been used up but now even the June quota is to be released.   What is the use of having a monthly diesel quota if the quotas are not followed and it has to be released two months in advance? Worse the Minister is also incompetent when he refuses to take speedy action to resolve the diesel shortage crisis, which he knew to be serious when he had earlier released the May diesel quota of 227.4 million liters in April.  Such policy failures and incompetence that has caused financial losses to ordinary businesses and affected the country image and economy is unacceptable. As a first step to resolve the diesel shortage crisis, Datuk Shafie should resign as he has shown himself to be inadequate. DAP also regrets the inaction and silence shown by MCA and Gerakan Ministers who do not appear to sympathise with the plight faced by lorry operators, transportation companies and diesel users.  (2/5/2005) * Lim Guan Eng, DAP Secretary-General