The Government Should Repeal the ISA/ 废除内安法•释放郭素沁RPK

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.

政府日前援引内安法令扣留3名人士，震惊全国，引起激烈谴责声浪。

这一轮的逮捕行动引发讨伐声浪，尤其当撰写“华人寄居论”新闻的《星洲日报》高级记者陈云清也一并成为逮捕目标，民间的不满达到沸点。此现象显示政府是时候检讨内安法令了。

这次事件中，我很高兴看到一些马华及其他国阵成员党领袖，挺身强烈抗议内安法令。事实上，未经审讯就扣留一个人是不公平的。政府其实可以援引其他条例来处理敏感课题。我们了解内安法令相关的课题，应该是影响全民而不只是单一种族。

我们常都批评美国未经审判就扣留疑似恐怖分子者在关塔那摩军事基地。我并非暗示大马警察的作为像美国，但事件的原则是，未审先扣是不公平的。目前，警察在内安法令底下掌握太大权力。但我相信大部分的警员思维正确，他们也认同内安法令容易被滥用。

从政治角度来看，此事件其实也给国阵政府一个再次争取人么那支持的机会。反对党多年来以废除内安法令口号博取人民支持，目前国阵是时候化被动为主动，下令废除内安法令。

这么做是要让人民知道，我国有一个听取民意的政府。我们可以用其他遏止滥用及强调司法改革的条例去取代内安法令。

因此，我在此呼吁警方即刻释放士布爹区国会议员郭素沁及部落客拉惹佩特拉。公正是超越党派的，不管郭素沁是来自民主行动党，或拉惹佩特拉一直在批判政府，这些背景都无关至要。

大马人民是成熟的，可以用成熟的方式去辩论课题。我们要的是一个成熟、开明及先进性马来西亚。我国独立迄今51年，我们应该要向前迈进，而不是后退。