pre-script: Do note that there will be a mass anti-ISA march organised for the 1st of August. I’ll update with details.
Yup, looks like the ISA is alive and well, and still being used to terrorise citizens.
When we think of detention without trial, it’s often prominent political figures that come to mind - but many ordinary Malaysians suffer, not only under ISA, but also under the Emergency Ordinance and so on.
Below is the full GMI (Anti-ISA Movement) statement on recent arrests, astoundingly made on the same day that Kerishamuddin announced ISA ‘reforms.’
Let’s take a look at said reforms, from an old article:
The Government is looking into a proposal to reduce the detention period under the Internal Security Act from 60 to 28 days, said Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein.
This is both stupid and misleading.
The ISA allows for detention without trial INFINITELY.
The process is this: the police can detain a suspect without trial under the ISA at their complete discretion. They can do this for a maximum of 60 days (what Kerishamuddin is talking about changing to 28).
After these 60 days, the Home Minister needs to sign a detention order, which means that the suspect can be held in Kamunting for up to two years.
Now here’s the clincher: the Home Minister can renew this detention order INDEFINITELY. There has be NO talk of reviewing this particular, pivotal position.
So what dumb difference does it make if you hold him for 32 days less under police custody, if a suspect can still spend his entire life in Kamunting (as some ISA detainees appear to be doing) ???!!?!!
I think we can therefore rubbish all this talk of ‘reviewing the ISA.’
And once again, we see indications that the ISA is still being used abundantly, albeit quietly, with little or no media exposure:
GERAKAN MANSUHKAN ISA
PRESS STATEMENT: 3rd July 2009
Gerakan Mansuhkan ISA (GMI) is astonished to learn of the latest arrest under the infamous Internal Security Act (ISA) in the midst of Government’s talks about reviewing the Act. According to the information received, Sulaiman Bin Bukhari, Latif Bin Omar and Samsudin (full name was not able to be obtained) were arrested under the ISA on 25th June 2009 at Ulu Tiram, Johor Bahru. They were alleged to be members of Jemaah Islamiyaah (JI). GMI calls on the government to verify this latest arrest.
If the information received by GMI is true then we completely condemn the arrest and demand for the detainees to be put on trial or released immediately. If the information is true, it is ashamed that the government is again practising double standards and double talks in issues related to ISA. On one hand, review of ISA and releases of detainees were announced in April and May but on the other hand, new detention were carried out and mind you, discretely at that as no announcements were made.
GMI finds it astonishing that the arrests were made on the same day (25th June) the Home Minister mentioned in Parliament of the government’s “plans” to review the draconian ISA. He also mentioned that there were 12 people serving detention orders under ISA. The secrecy and unscrupulous practice that surrounds the use of ISA goes against the principles of justice, truth and transparency. It again exhibited the true colour of the ISA, which is extremely arbitrary and has nothing to do with national security. It has further confirmed that the ISA is only a political tool to silence dissidents and critics of the government. We demand the government to release them immediately or charge them in open court.
GMI urges the people of Malaysia to demand for the release of all ISA detainees and abolish the ISA once and for all. We would like to invite all the concerned citizens of all races, religion and culture to come and join us in the Abolish ISA Rally on the 1st of August 2009 in Kuala Lumpur in conjunction with 49th year’s existence of ISA. Lets us fight for our rights and for a better Malaysia without the ISA which allows detention without trial.
Abolish the ISA!!!
Release all ISA detainees!!!
Close KEMTA!!!
Released by,
Nalini.E
Secretariat GMI
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