The detention of blogger Raja Petra Kamaruddin (RPK) under the Internal Security Act (ISA) and the show-cause letters to three newspapers, Sin Chew Daily, the Sun and Suara Keadilan why action should not be taken against them over their news coverage on a number of political issues must be condemned by all Malaysians concerned about human rights and democracy.
These actions make a mockery of the claims of the Abdullah administration to usher in a more open and democratic society under a just rule of law.
It shows the administration’s utter cynicism and Machiavellian politics in unblocking RPK’s news portal Malaysia Today after a two-week censorship only to arrest RPK under the ISA in less than 24 hours.
The unblocking of Malaysia Today was made to demonstrate the country’s commitment and allegiance to the Multimedia Super Corridor (MSC) Bill of Guarantees to the world of no Internet censorship but it is just naive for the government to think that the world can be fooled by such subterfuge – as by detaining RPK and taking him out of public circulation, the Malaysian Government has effectively blocked off Malaysia Today and violated the “no internet censorship” Bill of Guarantee!
The detention of RPK had only deepened the multiple crisis of confidence besetting the Abdullah premiership.
“ISA for RPK and show-cause letters to three newspapers while 3-year Umno suspension for Ahmad Ismail, the Umno Bukit Bendera division chief – is this the Abdullah justice and rule of law?” is the universal response and question of Malaysians today.
RPK has clearly become the victim of a new power play in Umno in post-March 8 general election.
It heralds a larger crackdown against criticism, dissent and diversity of views as RPK’s ISA detention and the action against the three newspapers will open the floodgates for a new repression in Malaysia.
Who are next on the line to be victims of the Abdullah crackdown and will it be reminiscent of the 1987 Operation Lalang?
#1 by scorpion on Saturday, 13 September 2008 - 8:53 pm
First the unscheduled tabling of a DNA bill and now this. The country is moving towards becoming a police state at greater speeds than ever seen before. The government will have to realise that the double standards practiced are not only scaring but also angering and to a certain extent uniting the citizens against the powers that be.
#2 by jenhz on Saturday, 13 September 2008 - 9:36 pm
What the higher (incompetent) authorities don’t get is this: the common people a.k.a. the Malays, the Chinese, the Indians, the other minorities – we don’t hate or dislike each other. It is the incompetent VIPs, who are hungry for power and who insist to stay in power that is stirring up this racial tension. As Malaysians, we should no longer buy their stories and fall into their trap. We should keep ourselves level-headed and give support to people like RPK, YAB Kok and the journalist.
#3 by ktteokt on Saturday, 13 September 2008 - 10:21 pm
What do you get when you put turnips, pineapple, keropok, cucumber and bean sprouts in a pot and mix it with thick soy sauce? The famous Penang rojak!
So what would you get if you mix a Pekingnese, German Shepherd, Labrador, Pug, Beagle and Bulldog together? Well, your guess is as good as mine looking at those who claim their race!
#4 by ktteokt on Sunday, 14 September 2008 - 9:00 am
And since when did MKA, the Malaysian Kennel Association, accepted “Mongrel” as a Pedigree?
#5 by ktteokt on Sunday, 14 September 2008 - 9:01 am
Confusion in one’s ancestorship would only give rise to more misperceptions of descendants!
#6 by Thomas Lee on Wednesday, 17 September 2008 - 7:00 pm
Anyone who says that the ISA is a good law is a real evil and cruel person. This is especially so by those who claim to be religious and believe in God. They are hypocrites of the highest order.
How can detention without a fair trial be good? How can one who believe in God be so evil and cruel as to confine another human being, a vice-regent of God on earth, to imprisonment without a just and fair trial.
Can we respect and support such an unjust cruel person to be the leader of the country?
The ISA is an immoral law used and abused by an immoral regime to persecute those who stand for truth, justice and human rights and dignity. We must work hard to have this evil piece of legislation removed.
#7 by wifeejane on Friday, 19 September 2008 - 10:44 pm
Ketua rakyat patut tahu membezakan antara betul dengan yang salah dan jangan berfikir dengan emosi. Rakat pilih tuan supaya mempertahankan hak, keamanan dan keadilan rakyat. AAB pernah kata dia bukan perdana menteri untuk Melayu sahaja tetapi dia juga PM untuk seluruh rakyat Malaysia iaitu termasuk Cina, India dan yang lain. AAB mesti tahu membezakan siapa yang memainkan emosi perkauman dan cuba memecah belah rakyat negara. Kami rakyat telah hidup secara aman dan damai dan saling memahami antara satu sama lain. Tolong nasihat ketua-ketua berkenaan jangan tanam perasaan kebencian dan fikiran bersebelahan keatas rakyat. Ini merupakan sesuatu tindakan yang paling zalim dan tuhan sedang memerhatikan kami. Pembalasan akirat akan menjatuhkan keatas sesiapa yang melakukan kezaliman ini. AAB adalah seseorang yang dihormati dan bepegang teguh kepada agama Islam jadi saya berharap tuan menasihat dan mengambil tindakan keatas sesiapa yang telah terpesong.
#8 by wifeejane on Friday, 19 September 2008 - 11:18 pm
zak_hammaad “I promise to be a good, non-hypocritical Muslim” and “Not all Arabs are descendants of the Prophet” r both article on how a bad Muslim misbehave. It indicate the bad behavior of people claiming to be Muslim but deviate from the actual teaching of prophet. Pls tell me which part of the article tak sopan kepada prophet dan Islam.