ISA Demonstration

A lot of friends have been asking me what to make of the 1 August 2009 street demonstrations. For the first time, two demonstrations were planned and held on a big scale, albeit separately, by two opposing groups on the same issue, one for and one against. They were also asking me if the Federal Government had backtracked on its earlier promise to review and revise the Internal Security Act (ISA) because the demonstrations all centred on the call for the abolishment of ISA.

Well, first and foremost, I checked around and I can confirm that the Home Ministry is serious in reviewing this Act, and a lot of other Acts also to make them more relevant with times. I am told the Ministry had formed a preliminary committee to look into the ISA Act. Yesterday, YAB DS Najib himself again reiterated in public that the Federal Government is committed to reviewing this Act.

So, why all the fuss? Why the need to demonstrate against the ISA when the Federal Government had promised and repeated time and again that they will take action to review the Act? The answer is – I DON’T KNOW. I don’t know why they did it after the Federal Government had promised that the Act will be reviewed and had also started the ball rolling by forming a committee. You cannot expect the review and revision to be done overnight. You have to give time for the experts to go through the Act thoroughly before announcing the proposed revisions. Or else, the Gerakan Mansuh ISA(GMI) which is backed by the Pakatan Rakyat politicians will just say the Government is rushing it and further criticise it.

From another aspect, if the opposition politicians are saying that they want the Act abolished and not reviewed and that they will not accept anything else, what about those who want the ISA to remain but with revisions? Are their voices and opinions less important compared to those who demonstrated against ISA that day? As it is there was another group, from Pakatan Rakyat itself who also demonstrated and sent a memorandum to the palace calling for the ISA be maintained with some revisions. The Pakatan Rakyat politicians using the GMI platform must also respect the opinions, wishes and voices of others. Or is it that we have changed the rule of the game, that it is now "whoever can demonstrate must be listened to and the Government should not care about others?"

Commenting on what happened on that day itself, I was sad that GMI went ahead with the demonstrations. Apart from being totally irrelevant because the Federal Government had already announced that the Act will be reviewed, the demonstration caused a lot of problems to many people. Cab drivers, businesses, the public and Malaysia as a country whose image is further tarnished by all these. And don't forget about the hours of traffic jammed up because of the demonstration. Then there are the indirect effects –investors’ negative perception of the political and security situation in Malaysia, potential tourists and others. I was also aghast when the Women Heads of PKR, PAS and DAP actually issued a joint press statement that the demonstration actually boosted business because many people came and had lunch around the area. Silly! Ask the business folks around there if they agree with that statement.

The police were I believe also overzealous in wanting to maintain peace and harmony. I appreciate that the police psyche is one that is to maintain law and order at all times and costs. I can also empathise what the police force might have been going through during the demonstration but I believe crowd control and prevention tactics are better than arrests. Maybe the police could have identified the ring leaders who are the troublemakers and arrest them whilst just cart away with a warning those who follow without knowing what the demonstrations were all about. However, in their defence, I was not there and do not really know in detail what transpired as a whole. I was told that there were many rabble rousers and some trouble makers who joined in because the demonstration was an opportunity for them to have fun. Whatever it is, it is not a bad idea if our police force were to be sent on a crowd management programme and come up with new methods for crowd control in the Malaysian context.

Anyway, I wish all of us would from now on pause a while, take a deep breath, think about our loved ones and what we want for our nation before we do something like this. We all love Malaysia and all of us have our own little idea what "utopia Malaysia" is. However, don’t forget that we are one of 26 million population in Malaysia, and that our opinions and ideas might not be what the other person is thinking of. From what I see, YAB DS Najib and his team of ministers have generally learned from the mistakes made in the past and are trying hard to rectify them. Give them space and opportunity to work. If they make mistakes, definitely tell them, but tell them in a proper manner. Never has it been our culture and way of life to demonstrate as what had happened on 1 August 2009, especially when the Government had listened to the Rakyat and promised to review the ISA.

I am also very happy that the YAB DS Najib had announced and the police had said they will consider allowing demonstrations in stadiums and so on. This will ensure public safety and those who are not interested in the demonstrations are not affected. You can also have petty traders there to sell their wares and so on. This option will allow whatever complaints and grouses still be heard , yet in a controlled and safe environment for both the public and demonstrators.

We have a lot of avenues and opportunities to make our voices heard, street demonstration is definitely not one of them.

ISA at Open House

Hari Raya is a celebration for the Muslims who have gone through fasting for the whole month of Ramadhan. For families, especially Muslims, it is a time when families gather, when the younger ones who had migrated to the cities to work would go back to kampungs, bringing their children to meet the granddad, grandma and the rest of the family. In Malaysia, Hari Raya celebration becomes more joyous and unique, as would all other celebrations in Malaysia, as it is celebrated by all walks of life and by all races.

Malaysia is also unique because whether it is Hari Raya, Chinese New Year or Deepavali, we will host open houses where our families and friends from various races will come to visit and share these celebrations. I was happy that I could continue this tradition of hosting a small open house this year. And as in previous years, I was happy that friends from various races came to share my Raya celebrations. It was good as we laughed, talked, discussed (some relatively heavy issues) and parted feeling good and happy. On a personal note, some of my friends could not come to my house this year because of various engagements. To them, as promised, I thought of you guys each time I put a chicken kurma or beef rending into my mouth. Not to mention the nasi tomato or prawn sambal and so on – hahahaha ( Ed’s note -personal joke there).

I was also happy to learn that our Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Minister and cabinet members also hosted an open house at PWTC. I was amazed when I heard approximately 200,000 people from all walks of life and of all races took the effort to celebrate Raya with our leaders. I was informed ambassadors, foreign dignitaries, foreign tourists also came for the open house as was the case in the previous years. In the news reports, many reacted extremely positive for the closeness we have between races in Malaysia and hoped that this unique tradition of all races celebrating all celebrations continue for years ahead.

This open house concept where you get to meet with the Prime Minister and the whole cabinet face to face, shake hands, take photos and so on is extremely unique. In fact I believe the only one in the whole world. Even in the US or UK you do not get to go so close to their President or Prime Minister or even their ministers and so on.

I have to say that I am actually proud of our people and the country for this.


But I was extremely sad when I heard about what the ISA group did. Whilst I can accept they were fighting for something they believe in, I thought what they did at the Raya open house was distasteful and left a poor image of the country to the public, foreign dignitaries, foreign tourists and international community.

I quote here from an entry in mylivingwall.com titled Hartal ISA at PWTC Hari Raya open house “Got to the meeting point at the Mall just before 11am and almost immediately realised that the plan to stand in a row at the entrance as the diplomats and dignitaries arrived would not work as we were informed that they would drive up straight to the 4th floor”.

Whilst I have no problems with people going for the raya open house and even whisper a thing or two to the PM, these people were out to create a ruckus and embarrass the nation in the eyes of the foreign diplomatic corp. Their initial plan was to stand in a row at the entrance where foreign dignitaries and diplomats were supposed to arrive and show a protest on the ISA and the arrest of RPK.

Reading further into the entry of the same blog, these people momentarily even blocked the entrance, denying other visitors from going in and also caused a loud commotion in the middle of the crowd.

Please guys, why do all these? Just to embarrass the PM ? Cabinet? …..Or the country? Whatever you did was counter productive.

In fact, from what I have read, the Hindraf supporters were much better behaved than the ISA group. They came in numbers but were orderly and just wanted to give PM a card without causing a problems. The message on the card is not the question here but they did it with decorum without creating public discomfort.

And the blog also said that all the members of the ISA group refused to shake hands with any other ministers that were jointly hosting the open house!!!! Do you guys know that it is courteous to shake hands with people you meet and more so with your hosts? This is not only the Malaysian way, but the norm and accepted decorum throughout the world.
I am extremely sad. I love my country. I am sure you do too, and you feel passionately about repealing the ISA. Whatever your reasons are, you have achieved only one thing with your antics – you have managed to shame the country in the eyes of the world.

The End Objective Cannot Justify the Means.

ISA Arrests

I am happy that Teresa Kok has been released. Initially, when she was detained under the ISA for her involvement in the Azan issue, I felt it was justified as the Azan issue was and still is an extremely sensitive issue. It could get many Muslims angry and riled up. It is seditious in nature and would have caused many problems, especially when race relations are so fragile now.

But now that things are much clearer, I am surprised and in fact appalled by the whole exercise. At least based on initial reports today, I am made to understand that Teresa Kok was detained under the ISA only to be questioned and investigated along with to ascertain her involvement in several issues like the Azan issue and others.

It is my belief that the ISA should only be used in extremely serious circumstances, amongst which are those affecting national security and harmony. The ISA Act is also a preventive act in nature ie to prevent the individual or individuals from causing harm or affecting national security and harmony. But it is not to be used when only to investigate or just on suspicion! It should only be used when you have totally clear and absolute proof of the matter.

Dato Seri Syed Hamid looks pretty stupid now for authorising the use of ISA. As the minister in charge, he did not utilise his wisdom and ultimate authority to sanction or overrule the suggestions made to him. Again I say, he has made a mockery of the ISA Act by authorising its use on this particular manner. Cases such as this and that of Ms Tan (Sin Chew Daily reporter)are why some quarters are calling for a repeal or review of the ISA.

The ISA Act is still relevant and needed for its proper use ie national security and harmony and as a preventive action when there is absolute proof. However, we need to ensure that abuses such as that committed by Dato Seri Syed Hamid do not happen again.

ISA Arrests on September 13 2008

I would like to comment on the recent arrest of three individuals under the ISA Act. In principle, I agree that Raja Petra Kamarudin and Teresa Kok should be arrested under this Act as what they had allegedly said or written were seditious in nature. They also have the means and are capable to continue saying or doing such acts that are seditious and potentially harm the country and the people.

However, I fail to understand the whole process of the arrest under the ISA Act and subsequent release of Tan Hoon Cheng, the reporter from Sin Chew Daily. The reason given by Dato Seri Syed Hamid Albar, the Minister in charge, that the arrest was done to protect her is unjustifiable. In the first place, you do not arrest someone especially under the ISA just to protect that person from a potential danger. Then, even if she were in danger and the arrest was done to protect her, what circumstances or factors have changed in the last 24 hours that had made that threat go away and warranted her release ? I would also like to state that this individual reported based on her perception of the matter, rightly or wrongly perceived. The argument if it were right or wrong or whether that was responsible reporting should be dealt through another channel and not in any way by using the ISA Act. As a reporter, she reports how she sees it, and does not have the potential other than through her reporting to cause further harm and damage on this matter to the country and the people, unlike Raja Petra or Teresa kok.

In addition, I would like to comment on Dato Seri Syed Hamid's statement as reported in the newspapers on Sunday, 14 September 2008. Dato Seri said he was informed on Friday of the impending arrests and did not want to interfere with it. He also said as the minister (in charge), he did not want to interfere with the administration of enforcement (STAR, 14 September 2008). I would like to think that as the minister in charge and head of that ministry, he is duty bound, especially in major and sensitive cases such as invoking the ISA Act, to use his judgment and make the correct decision.

Invoking the ISA is a very serious matter and should only be used as a last resort. One must already exhaust all other means and avenues before using the ISA. The ISA should also be used sparingly in only very serious and severe circumstances. The arrest of Tan Hoon Cheng under ISA and her subsequent release a day later and especially the reason given by Dato Seri Syed Hamid makes a mockery of the ISA Act. Such actions and justifications by the Minister in charge are what make people question the ISA and its usage although in nature this Act is essential to the country.