From: Zaid Ibrahim
To: Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi
Our earlier prime ministers, Tunku Abdul Rahman, Tun Razak and Tun Hussein Onn were truly leaders of integrity, patriots in their own right and most importantly, men of humility. They believed in and built this nation on the principles and values enunciated in our constitution.
Tunku stated clearly that the Act was passed to deal with the communist threat.
“My cabinet colleagues and I gave a solemn promise to Parliament and the nation that the immense powers given to the government under the ISA would never be used to stifle legitimate opposition and silent lawful dissent”, was what the Tunku said.
Our third prime minister, Tun Hussein Onn, reinforced this position by saying that the ISA was not intended to repress lawful political opposition and democratic activity on the part of the citizenry.
The events of the last three weeks have compelled me to review the way in which the ISA has been used. This exercise has sadly led me to the conclusion that the government has time and time again failed the people of this country in repeatedly reneging on that solemn promise made by Tunku Abdul Rahman.
This has been made possible because the government and the law have mistakenly allowed the minister of home affairs to detain anyone for whatever reason he thinks fit. This subjective discretion has been abused to further certain political interests.
History is the great teacher and speaks volumes in this regard. Even a cursory examination of the manner in which the ISA has been used almost from its inception would reveal the extent to which its intended purpose has been subjugated to the politics of the day.
Mr Prime Minister, the results of the last general election are clear indication that the people of Malaysia are demanding a reinstatement of the rule of law. I was appointed as your, albeit short-lived, minister in charge of legal affairs and judicial reform.
With your blessing, I attempted to push for reform. High on my list of priorities was a reinstatement of the inherent right of judicial review that could be enabled through a reversion of the key constitutional provision to its form prior to the controversial amendment in 1988.
Tunku stated clearly that the Act was passed to deal with the communist threat.
“My cabinet colleagues and I gave a solemn promise to Parliament and the nation that the immense powers given to the government under the ISA would never be used to stifle legitimate opposition and silent lawful dissent”, was what the Tunku said.
Our third prime minister, Tun Hussein Onn, reinforced this position by saying that the ISA was not intended to repress lawful political opposition and democratic activity on the part of the citizenry.
The events of the last three weeks have compelled me to review the way in which the ISA has been used. This exercise has sadly led me to the conclusion that the government has time and time again failed the people of this country in repeatedly reneging on that solemn promise made by Tunku Abdul Rahman.
This has been made possible because the government and the law have mistakenly allowed the minister of home affairs to detain anyone for whatever reason he thinks fit. This subjective discretion has been abused to further certain political interests.
History is the great teacher and speaks volumes in this regard. Even a cursory examination of the manner in which the ISA has been used almost from its inception would reveal the extent to which its intended purpose has been subjugated to the politics of the day.
Mr Prime Minister, the results of the last general election are clear indication that the people of Malaysia are demanding a reinstatement of the rule of law. I was appointed as your, albeit short-lived, minister in charge of legal affairs and judicial reform.
With your blessing, I attempted to push for reform. High on my list of priorities was a reinstatement of the inherent right of judicial review that could be enabled through a reversion of the key constitutional provision to its form prior to the controversial amendment in 1988.
Mr Prime Minister, I remember very clearly what you once said: "that if one has the opportunity to do what is good and right for the country, then he must take on the task." I respect you deeply for that and if I were confident that I would have been able to do some good for Malaysia, I would have remained on your team.
Sir, you are still the prime minister and you still have the opportunity to leave your footprint in Malaysian history. I urge you to do so by repealing the ISA once and for all.
Let us attempt to fulfil that solemn promise made by our beloved first prime minister to the people of this country.
Let us attempt to fulfil that solemn promise made by our beloved first prime minister to the people of this country.
Yours sincerely
Zaid Ibrahim
Source: Malaysiakini.com
Please read his full article which is lengthy.
25 comments:
Repeal the isa? The isa is umno's passport to the throne, the ultimate guarantee to its grip on power.
If the government is really serious in making a new change in the country it should start with abolishing the ISA.
Hello Mr/Ms white
If the government is really serious in making a new change in the country it not given top priority to ISA . Focus on rakyat issue such. ISA is wasted and form rakyat prospective is NVA. They time we spend for ISA is better utlize for improvement activiy.
ISA = POLITIC = WASTED
Mr/Ms White , pls spend ISA discussion time for ur work. Show the result and definately u will gain. ISA , u will not gain but u will get pain. Let the goverment run the shos . If don't like it just simple , cross over and if they aslo same , just simple boycoat. I prepare to spend my time with my job and I think how I will beneit my firm. They pay me to work and not pay me to talk politic. Politican job is to find someone fault in order to ensure the survival in their carear.
Truee Malaysian
We hope for miracle but I believe the day will come.
the guy can hardy keep his job, what more can u guys expect him to abolish ISA?
check this out... http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/9/30/nation/20080930145616&sec=nation
Malaysia has good buffer only after Pak Lah and Najib gone with the Wind. No way economy and FDI coming in so long these hopeless goons manning PutraJaya.
No more ISA for sure after these Morons gone!
Tuesday September 30, 2008 MYT 3:57:44 PM
Najib: Malaysian economy has buffers (updated)
PUTRAJAYA: As world markets went into free fall, newly-appointed Finance Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak reassured the people that Malaysia’s economy has buffers to help soften the shock.
Najib, who is also Deputy Prime Minister, said the country’s international reserves stoood at US$119bil (RM404.6bil).
“The national surplus is large and FDI is significant at US$31bil in the first half of the year,” he said at a press conference here on Tuesday.
truee malaysian 418pm..
your english is bad..period..but if you don't understand Zaid open letter to the PM,(which was written beautifully) please shut the f*ck up..or go hide behind your mum's sarong. Apparently the issues articulated by Zaid is to difficult for you to understand. Go somewhere....just go anywhere!!
i have to agree with artchan, i am not talking about your arguments, but your english is really bad.
I agree that we have to work hard in our jobs, not doubting that. but your english... aiyoooh..
Pls let me know which school you studied so that we can avoid it for our kids.
To the both above.
Check yourself first before you criticize truee malaysian's english.
Attack with facts and points instead of using the low-blow tactics.
I believe that all this is just another political propaganda. Why are people making so much of noise on ISA, when during Mahathir's iron fist era, no one did criticize his action for putting Anwar under ISA.
I have a question,
Why are they attacking the PM and Najib alone, when they should be hammering the rest too, like Khir Toyo who had made false accusations (proven false by the Hajis') towards Teresa and got away with it? This I find very disturbing. Khir Toyo is Mahathir's man but at the same time trying to put the opposition leaders into trouble which BN is granting his personal vendetta towards the opposition party.
BN will never repel ISA unless the they are out of the government. We fight again with the upcoming General Elections again.
September 30, 2008 7:26 PM
huntressmoon..
pardon me..i was really finding some points to argue over truee malaysian...unfortunately could find none..he/she was babbling away like the bald head minister during the aljazeera interview....
maybe you would like to help him/her..
by the way...if we did not criticise the ISA duribng Tun's time..does it mean we cannot criticise now? what logic?
Put it simply..if you never bought a new car then...forever you are forbidden to buy a new car? If you like to know..i was too young to understand ISA then..now I know..so to speak out now is wrong? Go to hide behind some sarong
Please lah.....don't dump yourself in the same kettle with the chappie that writes rotten english..
White,
The govt is serious ... to use the ISA!
Truee Malaysian,
If you are so concern about work, why waste time reading blogs on politics? You get paid for working, not reading politics.
KIMHO8,
Ya, we hope; but miracle do not happen here.
ORIS,
Never mine about what najib says; we hope he is right.
Artchan,
Let's leave those who lacks socio-political understanding to themselve.
HuntressMoon,
In any nation the man who leads takes the full responsibility. The PM and DPM have the power to decide and influence the changes. It is both of this two leaders who have the highest authority to decide and they can make Syed Hamid and Khir Toyo bend or straighten. But they did not act; instead they allowed Syed Hamid to arrest Teresa, Tan and RPK to be arrested under ISA.
I think you have not referred the the strong voices against ISA during Mahathir's time. There were equally strong voices against ISA and Mahathir was criticised too during his tenure.
It is not BN will never repeal ISA law. It is Umno and the power of Umno to influence decisions at the executive level. The ISA law has been used to suppress dissents and hold on to power.
If the people do not continue to resist and express their objections to ISA law, then the law will remain to be abused by those who used it to dominate the political spectrum.
Artchan,
I think I know where you are getting at. We shared the same platform regarding the ISA and the abuses. However, HuntressMoon is seeing the other side of the spectrum and is expressing the concern about Khir Toyo's abuses and sedition. I see both views as converging.
artchan,
Please do not use the hiding behind sarong, i find it very offensive and racist. thanks.
If we the chinese are offended to Ismail's words saying that all Chinese are pendatang, then we should not follow his ways.
Two wrongs does not make one right.
I am going to be a convert and have understood the other side of the race and religion. It is good because I can see both views. Racism has just got to stop aside from ISA.
i have 2 pairs of sarong at home, and i am chinese. sometimes i need something loose to wear at home, without any formality like a shorts.
no, they don't come with a chop that only muslim can use.
chinese are very creative, that i cannot doubt, and adaptable to good things. show that you got something good, and we will take it.
but if you find that chinese is strongly against something, then you got to see carefully if that thing is really good or not?
mave you put a link to malaysiakini which means those who do not subsrsibe to malaysiakini will not get to read it. why not link to other website/blog (since you do not wish to put up the full letter) esp. to the site that is near good as malaysiakini, the malaysian insider.
sorry. test.
Zaid ni dah tersyasyul agak nya or buat2 lupa dibulan puasa? Hussein Onn WAS THE FIRST PM TO USE ISA for political expediency - dia cekup Samad Ismail, Dolah Kok Lanas & another Dolah atas tuduhan komunis when in reality, he acted on the advice of Zali Shafie to get rid of his potential political pains-in the ass! Apahal he sounded so self-righteous now? Dah lah pepandai gula-gulakan Dolah Badawi to get gomen to compensate Saleh Abbas & the gang just to get at TDM.. sekarang dia berkokok tak tentu pasal!
huntress moon..
what is so racist about a sarong ..my mum (she's nyonya) wears sarong all the time? Ok if it makes it sound better go hide behind your mum's skirts. Only people like you tend to see everything along racial line.
I don't have to be a convert to see the other side of the religion.All religions teaches good. So no need to go on the "holier than thou" road to let us know of your religious inclinations. I have many more friends who that are appalled by the conduct of Khir Toyo and Ahmad Ismail, whether they are converts,muslims or any other religion. The comments here are regarding Zaid's letter.
Want to talk about Khir Toyo?..use another forum.
sigh,
The statement is offensive in how you use it, the tone and manner in one sentence.
Did I talk about Khir Toyo after that? It was a comment and sharing one's thought, why are you being so angry and defensive. Did I say something wrong to trigger such anger and such hatred from you?
Am I wrong to have voiced my freedom of speech?
If we are constricted to one type of voice, then let us not preach about freedom of speech.
My last words before i ruined Mave's posting.
Sorry.
My last word too on this....huntress, you cannot handle freedom of speech.
bye..
and Mav..Happy Holidays..and have a good weekend
HuntressMoon & Artchan,
I believed we are sharing our thoughts. Therefore, avoid being contemptuous and sounds disrespectful. We are all in a forum of sharing and lets continue to share our thoughts in an intellectual way.
Huntress, what you said is correct; two wrongs don't make one right.
I also agree that using the words "hiding behind sarong" isn't right in this context. Let's not take those words so harshly. A good reminder is fine. There's always a nice way to voice it.
Lucia,
The links I append indicates the source which I had culled. Those who do not have Malaysiakini account should consider contributing as a member. This way, we will help to promote Malaysiakini which is a good source of information and news.
I hope many more people would support Malaysiakini.
Dhahran Sea,
I think you do not understand a person's doctrinal stand.
Artchan,
I hope we can be greater friends with each other in this cyber world. The nation is in distress and we as citizens need not add further through this way.
I like you and HuntressMoon; both of you are my good friends here and both of you have given me support and encouragement to continue with the writings. Together with so many others who spent their valuable time to pen their comments it helps to make this blog lively.
I take this opportunity to thank all of the commenters for supporting CTSB and keep it going.
Maverick SM,
Pardon me, but doctrinal or urinal stand? Come on, zaid's the one talking about walking the talk, and he really "talked" about the recent three arrested on ISA charges; why didn't he "talk" about the the other 60++ under detension since ages? To me he smacked of hypocricy and only doing this after sensing at last that the AAB,SIL&Co's "titanic" is sinking soon...
Dhahran Sea,
When a person write a script he will pick a few cases and references; he doesn't need to try to do a full research and make a 100% reference. The gist of the matter is the abolition of ISA and the direction is to seek the PM to ponder and act.
What else is then not a hypocrisy? I think we should learn to appreciate his effort; instead you have preferred to see things with a wicked eye.
I hope we can learn to observe phenomena in its essence; rather than with concoction.
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