Zaid attends Pakatan meeting and reaffirms anti-ISA stand

KUALA LUMPUR: Senator Datuk Zaid Ibrahim broke party ranks by being the only Barisan Nasional representative at the opposition-initiated "Free Teresa Kok" parliamentary caucus yesterday.

The former de facto law minister arrived at the meeting at 3.15pm to a standing ovation from the mostly DAP crowd.

Zaid, hailed as "the man of the moment" and a national hero by DAP adviser Lim Kit Siang, joined Selangor Menteri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim, Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, DAP chairman Karpal Singh, Pas treasurer Dr Mohd Hatta Md Ramli and Parti Keadilan Rakyat vice-president R. Sivarasa in condemning the use of the Internal Security Act on a parliamentarian.

Zaid said that even before joining politics, he had been against the abuse of the ISA.

"My position on the ISA has always been that it should be used against people who want to overthrow the government by force, terrorists and other violent people of that sort."

"It should not be used against journalists, social activists or politicians. We cannot use the ISA just because we don't like someone or what they say."

Zaid, who resigned from his position as minister in the prime minister's department in charge of law on Monday, said it is because of this principle that he cannot remain in the cabinet.

"So Teresa, Raja Petra Kamaruddin and all the other ISA detainees must be released. We have enough laws to charge them in court should the need arises."

On the accusations against Kok, Zaid said that he knows the Selangor state executive councillor and Seputeh member of parliament personally, adding "there is no way she is capable of being anti-Islam, anti-Malay or anti anything".

"She is a wonderful lady and I cannot see how someone like her can be a threat to national security. So if the government has something (evidence) that we don't have, I think the government should disclose it and charge her in court," he said.

Kok, through her lawyer, filed a police report yesterday against Utusan Malaysia, its columnist Zaini Hassan and former Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Mohamad Khir Toyo for spreading malicious slander and lies about her.

NST online
18/09/08