The ISA must go

Time to get rid of draconian ISA Brave New World By AZMI SHAROM ... The ISA was drafted to battle the violent communist insurgency, and, one presumes, other threats of the same ilk. As stated by the father of the current Deputy Prime Minister, it was not meant to stifle democracy. And furthermore, it is the very mechanisms of democracy, such as a free press, that will keep the use of the ISA in check. In this light, we can see that the powers provided by the ISA have been severely abused over the decades. The latest example of course is the arrest of Raja Petra Kamarudin, Teresa Kok and Tan Hoon Cheng. The reasons for the detention of the three have nothing to do at all with any sort of violent action or even proposed violent action on their part. In the case of Tan, the justification for her 16-hour detention was so ludicrous and so obtuse, that it beggared belief. The ISA was not meant to be used as a personal protection device. And pray tell how a 16-hour detention after which the individual was released back into the public sphere can be considered “protection”? Raja Petra is currently being charged for criminal defamation and sedition. He is facing the law in open court where he shall be accused and he shall have the opportunity to defend himself or he would have done if he was not locked up right now. Why on earth is he being detained? Is he planning some sort of armed rebellion? There is no evidence at all to indicate even the slightest hint of that. And Kok is being detained because some political opponents have decided to accuse her of offending Islam. If these accusations are false, and there are indications that they are, then there is a term for this kind of behaviour – fitnah. Fitnah is the most despicable crime committed only by the most despicable of creatures. I am disgusted by the latest use of the ISA. It is undoubtedly going against the spirit and the intention of the ISA. The arrest of Raja Petra, Kok and Tan also shows that the law is so open to abuse that we have no other choice but to get rid of it. There can be no room for amendments. The ISA must go. ...more