Press Statement by Charles Santiago in Klang on
Wednesday, 1st October 2008:
Introduce reforms in the spirit of
Eidulfitri 1429 Hijrah
I wish all Muslims a very happy
Eidulfitri. Muslims in the country and around the world have been
fasting over the past month, performing prayers and spreading the
message of love, and peace to strengthen their religious resolve and
relationship between their brethren in faith and tolerance towards
others.
In line with this spirit of Hari Raya, let us come together and demand
for the repeal of the country's harsh Internal Security Act. This
colonial relic denies detainees their right to be heard in an open court
and also allows indefinite detention, at the whims and fancy of the Home
Minister.
I appeal to all Malaysians to show their solidarity with Raja Petra
Kamaruddin, the Hindraf five and other ISA prisoners whose fundamental
rights have been robbed from them.
Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has appeared on the local
television station, Astro Awani, to extend his wishes to the people. In
this spirit, I call upon the premier to make a bold decision to free all
the 62 ISA detainees with immediate effect.
We are aware that Abdullah's top job is in a limbo. The Prime Minister
has been dogged with calls for resignation from within the ruling UMNO
and opposition camps. Bowing to pressure, Abdullah has hinted he might
throw in the tower earlier than 2010. Before Abdullah leaves, I urge him
to leave a mark in Malaysia's political history by abolishing the harsh
ISA, which is widely used to curb dissent in the country.
While celebrating this joyous occasion which fosters goodwill among
people from all walks of life, I also strongly urge Abdullah to abandon
the DNA Identification Bill 2008 which is a legal and human rights
disaster. The Bill places excessive powers in the hands of the police
and Home Affairs Minister and is therefore open to abuse.
Let us begin Eid with a staunch hope that it would usher in a new era of
reforms in Malaysia - reforms that are targeted at allowing people to
regain their freedom of speech and fundamental rights.
Eid Mubarak.
* Charles Santiago, MP for Klang
http://dapmalaysia.org