Monday, September 15, 2008

Why ISA is used on civilians who do not pose threat to national security?

ISA originally enacted to combat communism & terrorists is wrongly used on civilians.
 
Excerpt from The Star Online 14-9-2008
 
"Sin Chew Daily reporter Tan Hoon Cheng was detained under the Internal Security Act (ISA) because police received information that her life had been threatened", said Home Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar.
"Police wanted to get to the bottom of it," he said.

However, the minister vehemently denied that he had anything to do with the arrests and detention of Tan and two others — Malaysia Today news portal editor Raja Petra Kamaruddin and Selangor senior executive councillor Teresa Kok — under the ISA on Friday.

"I don't think we are being unfair or mistreated her in any way," he said when asked if Tan had posed a security threat in any way.

Asked why the police did not just ask Tan to come in for questioning instead of arresting her, Syed Hamid said it was always difficult when police had to deal with reporters.

On Raja Petra, he said the blogger had been given numerous warnings as well as been charged but he continued to create tension.

As for Kok, he said she had questioned the sensitive issues such as the azan (call for prayers for Muslims) and that could cause ill-will and disharmony.

On why Ahmad was not detained for making racist comments, he explained that Umno had already punished him by suspending him for three years and stripping him of his party posts.

Source:
 
 
Comments:-
 
Firstly ISA is originally enacted to combat communism & terrorists nowsaday it is wrongly used on civilians with ill intention to silent the critics. It just shows that Home Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar was talking non sense when he commented that Sin Chew Reporter Ms. Tan was detained under ISA for 18 hours because her life was threatened! When Police is truly interested to protect her why use ISA which is meant to punish criminals but never meant to "protect" civilians. The original intention and primary purpose of ISA is to punish criminals and armed terrorists from known organisation to the public at large that it is truly will pose a threat to national security. But a journalist will pose what kind of threat to national security? The criminal is set free while the victim is detained under ISA as a lesson to silent the critic.
 
As for Teresa Kok, she is a Member of Parliament or lawmaker elected by the people, for the people and of the people to serve the country. Could a MP consider a threat to national security when she helps to residents over the loud azan or morning prayer from a mosque? Do unto other what you want other to do to you. It is inconsiderate to disturb the sleep of the residents by loud or long morning prayers when the basic rights of the non-muslims residents to enjoy good sleep have been deprived. Faithful believers will wake up for morning prayers even without be called for. Mostly morning prayers for 2-3 minutes will suffice as God see the heart and not the public display of one's religiousness.
 
While Raja Petra is outspoken for saying his piece of mind, there are laws to charge him in court if he did anything wrong. What has been rumoured must have some truth. As the saying goes, there is no smoke without fire; so with the smokes hovering before our eyes, the air must be cleared by legal action in court and not through ISA. To invoke the ISA is truly a coward and inhuman action of the govt to silent the critics. Inhuman Stupidity Act (ISA) is only exhibited by coward and uncilivised govt on the civilians who strive for truth and justice in the corrupted country.
 
The damage has been done by the BN govt beyond reconciliation. A new Malaysia is what the Rakyat (People) is hoping for in the days ahead.

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