A law that seeks to punish ‘capability’ to commit a crime is something we should all fear. I am, under such a law, a rapist, an arsonist, a mass murderer and a thief. Given time, I would like several thousand other potential crimes to be taken into consideration. What is the appropriate punishment for my capability?

A law that seeks to punish threats must already exist in Malaysia, mustn’t it? Overt threats of injury, financial loss or other hardship should be well covered, I would have thought.

‘Covert threats’ are not threats. I have no fear of covert threats, and if I did, I could seek help for my fear - it would be paranoia. If they are known by somebody other than the person or person threatening, then they are overt, and covered by other law. If they are unknown, except by a person or persons plotting to carry out a surprise crime, then they are like most crimes - not a crime until they’re committed. Empowering a legal system to ’stop crimes before they happen’ is a dangerous fantasy.

There’s a great 3-part BBC documentary from 2004 called ‘The Power of Nightmares’ that goes into the subject in great detail. In the third part it notes that of the thousands of funny-looking-possibly-foreign people detained in the USA after the World Trade Center atrocity, there was never any evidence to suggest any of them were ever going to commit a crime or terrorist act.

As for current ISA detainees: if the ISA were to be repealed, I would expect all the detainees to be charged with crimes. If any of them were to be charged with extreme crimes, then I imagine you have some law that allows their continued detention (on remand?) while a conviction is secured - do you? Any of them charged with less serious crimes should be released on bail.

I guess one tricky point in Malaysia is that last “serious”. I have a lot of respect for lawmakers. It can’t be an easy job. The image of lawmakers skirting around the elephant in the room is at once entertaining and depressing.

you think the civil servant is invinsible ka, they also go to the polls too,,,,,so what happens when insubordination takes place…you get things broken or confiscated regarless what is the standing instruction. so who is in charge….dream on

if ever we see interested people living the sinking ship, cahnces are all time favourite questions arise : what is it for me and what if i leave and then i cannot renew my license? or no more free parking space.

go sell fish and dream on ….oth….people makes the world go round ..lets see which of them are not.

You two lousy dogs barking at the wrong tree!

Ask yourselves: who is the government? who is controlling the purse string and with it the resources to get things done? who control all the instruments of the state? who create all the mess that we are facing today?

If the BN cannot solve all these problems after 51 years of ruling this country, you expect Pakatan, with their hands tied behind their backs to do wonders in 6 months?

Get real man!

There are many governments with only a slim majority and yet they can govern their countries in cooperation with the Opposition. But here in Bolehland with a strong majority, still they are fighting like cats and dogs. These are the people you should be barking at.

Personally, my own simplistic layperson view is that if someone is a terrorist that is capable of causing a real threat to national security, there should be some connection that the Government should be able to prove. For example, links with known terrorist groups, or past activities or skills that shows that such a person has the motive, the means and the opportunity to cause such a threat. Basically, I’m walking along the path that there should be a fair trial allowed after the initial urgent detention. The government does not need to have 100% water-tight proof. Such proofs are probably impossible anyway in the case of some genuine terrorist threats. However, I believe the Government need to be able to demonstrate in courts that the weight of evidence points towards the probability that such a person is a genuine threat. In other words, say something like 60% to 80% probable, as opposed to 100% certainty.

Even in such a generalized %, it is obvious that someone like RPK will not meet such a requirement. Meaning, he should simply not be detained under ISA. If it goes to a fair trial, I have no doubts the courts would free him immediately.

Indefinite detention without the possibility of fair trial is simply ridiculous in today’s times. It might be acceptable hundreds of years ago, or even 50 years ago, but not today.

Today at 09: 38.21 (7 hours ago)

… be real. the raayat are suffering from over dose of politicking in the country. either dsai wait for the next ge or stop putting dates for guessing.this is not a game of chess. this global crisis is for real. and the raayat are suffering for real.

***************

REPLY: Today is October 7. For me, it’s been at least a week if not two weeks since DSAI last gave a deadline for cross-over. DSAI has indirectly chided Tian Chua and PAS publicly, when he publicly announced that from now onwards (a week or two weeks ago?), all announcements on cross-overs will come only from himself. So, what are you rambling about by continue to blame DSAI for the present woes especially over the past week or two weeks when 916 was already a distant past? Are you expecting DSAI to quit politics altogether? What exactly do you want DSAI and YB Kit to do? To announce that they will categorically not work on cross-overs over the next 4 years? Is this in line with the Constitution that says that the PM’s job is not a guaranteed tenure?

Politicians are politicians. It’s their job. A silent politician is not a politician. My advice to you is “GET REAL”.

And yes, the global crisis is real. Rakyat’s suffering is real. And the only party that can make a real difference today is the Government. Not the Opposition. It doesn’t mean we don’t need the Opposition. It means the Government must take steps to alleviate Rakyat’s sufferings, whether that is through proper Government spending, initiatives, programs, cost cuttings, efficiency improvements, eliminating corruption, better benefits for Rakyat, education, crime and improved policing, and a million other things. Don’t blame DSAI. Don’t blame the Opposition. Blame 99.9% on the Government because they have the people, they control the resources, they make the decisions.

Or are you expecting the Opposition to come up with ideas for the Government? Then, what is the Government for?

Who knows, when PM is cornered, KJ & the 4th floor boys could have another plan….the Altantunya Military intelligence report (as per one of RPK’s article) could suddenly surface….& another round of cat & mouse game could buy more time for PM….whilst at the same time “destroying” DPM’s postition/creditability including his gravy train….

Just be patient….more revelations will be forthcoming as the Political Opportunists (Party Heroes wannabe vs PM’s Heroes wannabes!) get more “impatient & desperate”…

The Self Destruct mechanism within BN & UMNO is already in action.

Devine intervention works wonders !

Meanwhile PR can remain focus & maintain their their numbers as the “morality” issue (a blessing in disguise) serves to ensure “Political Opportunists” would serve no purpose (become Trojan horse within PR).

This is where you should moot the idea of the 3rd Front to accommodate all the “ex-BN component party members” who have left (like SAPP, etc) or plan to leave BN either enbloc or individually.

As long as the BN majority is reduced (any which way !) - the 3rd Front/Party can later affiliate with PR without the morality issue……

Just think for a minute…..the basic issue at hand….a young Mongolian lady visitor to Kuala Lumpur was murdered in a most “Henious & Barbaric” manner in Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia.

Up to this day, I am ashamed that Malaysia with all the multi million ringgit hi-tech Forensic equipment & investigations is not able to establish any concrete evidence/conclusion with that crime.

Instead, the pepetrators of that case has brought this great nation on a “Wild Goose Chase” deviating from the basic issue into a “Political” cat & mouse charade….causing the bereaved family to suffer unnecessarily.

What’s more, many innocent “Political” victims (in trying to defend the truth to restore Justice, Freedom of speech, etc & Equality in the system) have been harassed/intimidated/jailed by the Power-that be….

Has anyone calculated the unnecessary waste of our Taxpayer’s ringgit in this “Political” charade ?

What about the “Shame, our nation’s Creditability & being labelled as another Zimbabwe” internationally !

We started with the Westminster style of Democracy, Judiciary system, Monarchy, etc in 1957 with Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra & his first cabinet until he was betrayed by the “Elite Ketetuanan” group.

Since then we have been “Mis-led” by BN & UMNO all these years manupulating that great “Westminster style” system into the present “Gutter” Political system !

Just who are the real “Traitors” to this great nation ?

You be the judge !