Former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir has never subscribed to true values and principles of democracy and it is therefore not surprising that he has on Thursday suggested that the government bring back the repealed Internal security Act ( ISA).
The history of ISA is full of abuses by the BN government. The worst abuse of the draconian law whereby more than 100 persons were detained without trial took place in the infamous 1987 Operasi Lalang when he was the nation’s prime minister.
It is good to note that there are voices within Umno against the reintroduction of ISA.
Urban Wellbeing, Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Abdul Rahman Dahlan was right when he said that everyone must accept the fact that the era of ISA was over in Malaysia, and there was no need to resurrect the law.
However, the person whom Malaysians want to hear from is none other than the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib.
He has disappointed Malaysians with his continued silence on the Jais’s illegal raid on Bible Society of Malaysia, he should not keep silent on the calls to bring back ISA.
I call on the Prime Minister to immediately, publicly and clearly state that there will not be a reintroduction of the draconian ISA.
He should also make it clear that there will not be a return of Mahathir to Putrajaya to help the federal government tackle raging racial, religious and economics issues as suggested by former Minister Tan Sri Zainuddin Maidin.
It is most disappointing that the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar has supported the reintroduction of ISA.
As the nation’s top cop, he should know that detention without trial violates the fundamental rule of law and the police must not rely on such oppressive law in carrying their duties.
He should also remember the “addiction” remarks made by the Attorney General Tan Sri Abdul Ghani Patail on August 25, last year.
Tan Sri Patail had publicly stated that preventive detention had actually failed to check the rise in violent crimes but the police were “addicted” to using the law.
The IGP should always ensure that the Police can move on with the times.
I was a victim of the Police abuse of ISA when I was detained without trial for seven days in September 2008.
After being detained for seven days under the guise of so-called investigations, the police failed to produce any evidence or proof of me being involved in the activities of causing racial and religious tension.
They were only able to ask me few questions based entirely on the false and malicious article written by Zaini Hassan under the topic “Azan, jawi, JAIS, Uitm dan ba-alif-ba-ya” that was published in Utusan Malaysia on Sept 10, 2008.
Former Selangor Mentri Besar Dr Kahir Toyo who had made comments which had indirectly caused my detention has on December 10 last year apologized to me before an open court.
Will the Police apologise to me?