CoFfEE witH PUNithAN

Malaysiakini described the ISA arrests as BN's "own goal" in their match against anwar's sept 16 plan.

Today, the De facto Law Minister Datuk Zaid Ibrahim has submitted his resignation letter to the Prime Minister. ( Ref : Law Minister Zaid 'tenders resignation')

The 3 ISA arrests ( especially 2 of it) condemned by almost everyone. I even came across a news on BN and BR in penang passing a draft resolution condemning the arrest of three people under the Internal Security Act on Friday.

MIC Bayan Baru division chairman M. Nyana Segaran was the only person from a Barisan Nasional component party who attended the 45-minute meeting at the residence of Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng here last night.

“I’m only representing my division and not the party,” he told newsmen after the meeting. ( ref :Parties pass resolution blasting ISA)

Ministers and party leaders within Barisan Nasional have lashed out at Friday’s ISA arrests. Some have gone as far as to call for the Act to be comprehensively reviewed, while others maintained that the draconian law is still relevant but should never be abused or used against civilians.

Human Resources Minister Datuk Dr S. Subramaniam (MIC)

said the Government should be sensitive to the feelings of the people and not be blind to the fact that a significant proportion of the rakyat abhor the ISA and would prefer it not to be used.

“Every time somebody is arrested under the ISA, it gives rise to a perception that the Government is doing it because it is not able to charge and convict the person under existing laws,” he said.

said some aspects of the ISA ought to be subjected to intermittent review but its function to prevent occurrences that divide the community should be respected.

called for the ISA to be reviewed so that it would not be abused by any quarters to undermine national unity, security and stability.

There should be new laws to govern racial relations, encourage greater unity and avoid discrimination among races in the country.

“The Race Relations Act I’m proposing should be looked into by the Unity, Arts, Cultural and Heritage Ministry,” he said.

Gerakan acting president Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon ( Gerakan)

said Gerakan had called for the amendment of the ISA but not its abolition.

He said the Act should be used only when dealing with national security and not against journalists carrying out their duties.

said MCA felt that if the ISA was really necessary, it must only be invoked in the most extreme cases.

Otherwise, he said, the Act would be a threat to the rule of law and the fundamental liberties as enshrined in the Constitution.

“In fact, even the drafter of the ISA, the late Prof R.H. Hickling, had said the Act was only intended against communist insurgents and those bent on armed struggle.

“If at all national security is threatened, there must be strong evidence to show that. Otherwise, such detainees should be charged in an ordinary court of law and there are sufficient laws for this purpose,” he said.

Well, like many, i am still waiting for YAB Pak Lah's statement on this. Did the police or home minister acted on his advice?

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