Datuk Dr Chua Soi Lek wrote in his blog –

The recent arrests of three individuals, under the Internal Security Act (ISA) have been roundly condemned by politicians and the people alike.

The widespread dissatisfaction with the arrests, especially with what happened to Sin Chew Daily reporter Tan Hoon Cheng, shows the time is right now for the ISA to be reviewed.

I am glad that at last some leaders in my party, the MCA, and also from other Barisan Nasional (BN) parties have come out strongly against the ISA.

The detention of individuals without trial is fundamentally unjust. In Malaysia we have other laws, including many other security legislations, to deal with issues which are sensitive.

The issue of the ISA does not just affect one race. It affects all Malaysians. Many of us here have, of course, criticised the United States for detaining suspected terrorists without trial at the Guantanamo military base.

I am not suggesting that the police in Malaysia have acted in the same manner as what goes on in the US. But the principle remains the same, that detention without trial is unjust. The police are given far too much discretionary powers under the ISA.

And while I believe right-thinking individuals are a majority within the police, the ISA is still subject to abuse. Politically, this is also a chance for the BN government to regain some initiative in competing for the support of Malaysians.

The opposition parties have for years been using the repeal of the ISA as a rallying cry. Perhaps it is time for us in BN to seize the initiative once and for all and review the ISA. This will show the people that we have a government which listens to them.

The ISA can be replaced with some other legislation which offers protection against abuse and which allows judicial review.

I would also like to take this opportunity to call on the police to immediately release Seputed MP Teresa Kok and blogger Raja Petra Kamaruddin. Justice is a bipartisan issue. It does not matter if Teresa is from the DAP and if Raja Petra is a fierce critic of the BN government.

We as Malaysians are mature enough to debate issues in a mature manner. The Malaysia we all aspire to is one which is mature, open and progressive. After 51 years of independence, let us move forward not backwards.

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

You called for the immediate release of RPK and Teresa. Your calls have fallen on deaf years, obviously and for the obvious reason that you are irrelevant. And after that you announce you will be standing for the MCA deputy president’s post. You are still clinging on to an irrelevant party. Nothing has changed – cakap shiok saja. That’s about all you MCA can do – you can bark a little if the Master allows. To be fair, once upon a time you could get some low-cost houses for some of your members. At that time, many were enticed and encouraged to join the MCA because of a chance or hope of getting a low-cost house. Apart from barking with consent and acting as runners and postmen to get some small favours done for the Chinese (more often than not for a fee, not free), I cannot see how MCA have contributed to the welfare of the Chinese community which they claim to represent.

Datuk Dr Chua, you are getting old but still a man of influence at least in MCA, Johor. Take a stand for the well-being of the country for a change e.g. ask your young son and some other good MCA members to cross over to the PR. There is a lot more future over there than to remain in the MCA which is sinking together with the Titanic.

Take it in a positive light – Badawi probably thinks that C4-man is a public liability and should be disconnected from the military since C4 is likely to engage the military against the rakyat if C4 is pushed further in the corner. Badawi is probably getting the ground work done for an easier take-over by or transition to Anwar.

On the other hand, Badawi may be thinking that if all else fails to stop Anwar and / or to protect his PMship, he will have the military at his disposal if he is Defence Minister.

Najib may have been asked to eat the proverbial dead cat in view of an expected global financial crisis.