The mass arrests of 36 people in Petaling Jaya, Penang and Kota Bahru for candlelight vigils protesting the 50th anniversary of the Internal Security Act is a clear signal that the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak and Home Minister, Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hisham are not prepared to repeal draconian laws to show greater respect and commitment to human rights of Malaysians.
The Najib government was fully aware beforehand of the peaceful candlelight vigils planned countrywide to protest against the pernicious and draconian Internal Security Act, which had detained over 10,000 people without trial in the past half-century, stifling fundamental liberties of Malaysians to freedom of speech and expression, the right to peaceful assembly and association and most important of all the right to liberty and freedom from arbitrary arrest or detention.
The police crackdown on peaceful candlelight vigils protesting against the 50th anniversary of the ISA in various parts of the country last night is an unmistakable statement by the Najib administration that it cannot be trusted in taking the country towards a more open, democratic and accountable direction.
If the Najib government is not prepared to respect the rights of citizens to gather peacefully in candlelight vigils to protest the 50th anniversary of the ISA, which pose no security threat or hazard in any manner, it gives the lie to all talk of pending democratic reforms, as allowing peaceful assemblies to be held without requiring police permits. Now all such talks require bigger pinches of salt!
In a way, the Police must be thanked for their high-handed and undemocratic actions last night, for it had been a powerful antidote to the soothing and lulling propaganda of the Najib administration for over a year that there would be greater respect for democracy and human rights causing a relaxing of vigilance among Malaysians.
The lesson from last night’s high-handed police action is that Malaysians must not drop their guard in the battle to restore democracy and human rights.
#1 by frankyapp on Monday, 2 August 2010 - 12:54 pm
It again affirmed pretty clear that the BN admin. no matter under whose admin. starting from TAR to now his son Najib needed the ISA to remain in power. I think the ISA is a totally draconian law,disregarding all univeral freedom of speech and assemby and human rights. It’s intentionaly created and used for the sole purpose of protecting BN leaders and cronies in the name of national security. It must be repeal immediately . Get rid of it,or malaysia gets rot .
#2 by rahmanwang on Monday, 2 August 2010 - 12:58 pm
Like I said ISA to be used when PR takes Putrajaya.Put all BN ministers for their abuse of power ,corrupt practices.Build more prison for Barisan.
#3 by HJ Angus on Monday, 2 August 2010 - 1:03 pm
The ISA is not necessary to file proper cases against any corrupt leaders.
The whole world should know all the details of how they Bankrupsi Negara and using ISA will not educate the masses.
The ISA must only be used when there is a threat to national security and that must be properly identified.
Changing the government is not considered such a threat.
#4 by undertaker888 on Monday, 2 August 2010 - 1:16 pm
they got arrested because they forgot to bring a cow head or any other animals head. the police got pi$$ed off, the protesters only bring out candles. how come they dont do the chasing like this scale to ah longs, or other criminals? i hear woof-woof.
will mr. hisap-whatever-pudding come to defend them? maybe not. no head stomping involved.
Do not abolish ISA. Abolish those in power who misuse it. Why? If we abolished ISA, those in power can create another worse type of ISA. Maybe BISA or SISA…etc
#5 by cintanegara on Monday, 2 August 2010 - 1:20 pm
Trying to divert attention from DAP’s main issue? DAP sacked Tee Boon Hock and I’m sure many of us here are interested, to know the real story.. What took you so long?
#6 by ktteokt on Monday, 2 August 2010 - 1:25 pm
Carrying a bloody cowhead, screaming vulgarity and stepping on the cowhead only brought a sentence of RM1,000 fine on these racial provokers. Now, let us see what the courts will decide as sentences for these peaceful candlelight vigil participants. If the sentence is any heavier than those of the cowhead gang, then it will be as good as telling the whole world MALAYSIA has NO JUSTICE!
#7 by monsterball on Monday, 2 August 2010 - 1:35 pm
‘Hurtful actions can jeopardise racial harmony” so said PDM.
I guess it means to divide and rule is the best.
I guess ..he is saying…ISA unites and protects Malaysians?
it is a Tool …..to protect UMNO B government….and not Malaysians.
And why must a government of 55 years need all sorts of protections and control of minds?
Anyway….Najib’s …”People First.Performance Now” slogan is again and again proven worthless…because he is a worthless …..powerless..showman.
We need to apply Gandhi’s peaceful disobediences and not fall into their traps..to provoke us to rebel.
13th GE is near….and expect all sorts of fear and provocations
to start all over again.
So many done..all failed.
Stay cool and calm but talk with no fear..for every unlawful arrests will mean more and more UMNO B voters will turn against them.
#8 by monsterball on Monday, 2 August 2010 - 1:42 pm
What took you so long to come and talk nonsense again….cintanegara?
Divert attention for what….you jackass.
All we know is DAP dares to take actions fast on corruptions..and you are unhappy about that?
#9 by sheriff singh on Monday, 2 August 2010 - 1:56 pm
What are they arrested for? What’s the charge?
Is Bolehland a member of the UN Commission on Human Rights? If so, why not complain there since we are so respectful of International Laws.
#10 by monsterball on Monday, 2 August 2010 - 1:58 pm
On so many occasions that you may sit or stand peacefully burning candles and praying for your love ones or friends that are in jail under ISA…is illegal.
That’s how free Malaysians are today.
#11 by k1980 on Monday, 2 August 2010 - 2:01 pm
There were lots of candlelight vigils throughout the world after the 9/11 attack on New York. Why didn’t the PDRM arrest those people?
#12 by monsterball on Monday, 2 August 2010 - 2:08 pm
rahmanwang….like I said too…PR govt. need no ISA to arrest crooks.
cintanegara have found a new friend here?
#13 by monsterball on Monday, 2 August 2010 - 2:12 pm
It is UMNO B creating fear out of nothing for their own agendas to place race dirty politics.
Malaysians can live peacefully….and it is UMNO b…MCA and MIC that keep on playing race and religion politics…to poison weak minds.
How cruel can some BN politicians be.
#14 by k1980 on Monday, 2 August 2010 - 2:30 pm
without the isa, umno would never had been able to stay in power for 53 years…..so why should they abolish isa? It is like demanding Chua SL to give up taking viagra…. why should he?
#15 by Bigjoe on Monday, 2 August 2010 - 2:31 pm
Its not just the ISA that Najib has not moved on, its his entire administration.
Take for example the fact his inside circle has identified PKFZ, Anwar, and Teo Beng Hock as the key issues prior to election. How did they come to this decision? Basically by its popularity i.e, they think the issue has the most sensational material of all . Instead of dealing with the fundamental issues of the cases – corruption, broken institutions, etc. he just want to deal with the publicity when the publicity is a reflection of the disease.
What has changed? charging Ling when the same people who would not investigate and charge him in the first place are doing the job now?
Sadly, its not just the ISA that has not changed, its really everything has not changed.
#16 by TheWrathOfGrapes on Monday, 2 August 2010 - 2:56 pm
This is the operations lalang that storm62 was alluding to in the other thread – and he was right.
#17 by bennylohstocks on Monday, 2 August 2010 - 3:02 pm
a href=”http://malaysiancartoons.blogspot.com/2010/08/run.html”>RRRRRRUN!!!!!
#18 by bennylohstocks on Monday, 2 August 2010 - 3:03 pm
a href=”http://malaysiancartoons.blogspot.com/2010/08/run.html”> RRRRUN!!!!
#19 by bennylohstocks on Monday, 2 August 2010 - 3:09 pm
#20 by bennylohstocks on Monday, 2 August 2010 - 3:14 pm
noted link not acceptable
#21 by baochingtian on Monday, 2 August 2010 - 10:09 pm
I thought i read about penang opposition leader commented that if someone speaks against PR at the speaker’s square, the person shall be condemned by PR. Looks like the opposite is true, anything not to the favor of umno is against the law, is tangkap tangkap. This is truly abuse of power. Why ipoh was ok but not penang and selangor? What standard is this? Class below ground level zero!
#22 by burn on Tuesday, 3 August 2010 - 12:12 am
i am okie with candlelight protesting!
but not when one start shouting inside the mall!
mall is a place for ppl to shop, and relaxed!
kalau nak buat, buat kat luar!