Arrest of Teresa Kok An Instigation?

The only response to the arrest under the ISA of Selangor senior state executive councillor and Seputeh MP Teresa Kok can only be anger and frustration. According to the report in Malaysiakini,

Kok has been defending herself against allegations that she complained about the noise of morning prayers at a mosque in her state seat of Kinrara. She has said the accusation is "preposterous".

This is the flimsiest reason they can use to arrest a state councillor under the ISA. How can her action be construed as a threat to national security? In any case she has denied the accusation. Nobody in his/her right mind would consider her a threat to the country.

Perhaps the intention was to instigate the people with this glaringly unjustified action. Perhaps they hope people will react angrily and take to the streets. This will give them an excuse to take further drastic actions such as imposing emergency rule thus preventing 916 from materialising.

Lets not be fooled by these antics. Various people have advised caution and level-headed response. A reader of People's Parliament blog posting, "Don’t fear a dying beast’s last strike, but don’t fall for its rouse either" wrote the following:

1. Remain calm

2. Do not do anything rash

3. Do not take to the street

4. Do not be instigated by people to demonstrate

5. Just voice it out in your blog, your comments to the blogs, and inform your friends and relatives about the situation

6. Call your Aduns or MPs and voice out your objection about these arrests and urge your representatives to voice out

7. Members of political parties, sms your leaders to pressure them to voice out

We shall object to these draconian acts by using civility and do not fall into the traps of giving the big brother a chance to declare emergency rule……

Release the political detainees! Abolish the ISA!