One Barisan Nasional member of parliament was among 76 other MPs who signed an opposition-initiated petition calling for a debate of the review and repeal of the Internal Security Act (ISA) in the Dewan Rakyat when it reconvenes after the Deepavali break.
Revealing this today, Lim Kit Siang (DAP-Ipoh Timur) said while it is “historic” that as many as one-third of all MPs inked their support for the debate, the signatures did not reflect the public pronouncements of several top leaders of Barisan component parties who have called for a review of the preventive detention law.
“I am disappointed that up until now, only one Barisan Nasional MP has been willing to support this letter to the prime minister (Abdullah Ahmad Badawi), as this is not a commitment to abolish the ISA… but only a call to debate whether the ISA should be reviewed or repealed.”
Lim declined to reveal the identity of the sole Barisan MP who had signed the petition.
The DAP leader said this at a press conference held at Parliament lobby today. Lim was flanked by Kamaruddin Jaffar (PAS-Tumpat) and Saifuddin Nasution Ismail (PKR-Machang) and a dozen other Pakatan MPs.
The petition - the first of two on the issue that will be submitted soon to Abdullah who, as prime minister, decides the order of motions to be deliberated by the Dewan Rakyat - is the work of a parliamentary caucus set up to effect the release of Teresa Kok (DAP-Seputeh) from ISA detention.
Kok was detained for a week in mid-September under the ISA, ostensibly in relation to claims that she had gotten involved in moves to stop or lower the volume of azans (calls to prayer) from certain mosques. Both Kok and the said mosques have denied the allegations.
Following Kok’s release on Sep 19, the caucus has instead focused on the complete abolition of the ISA.
Lim noted that the situation does not bode well for MCA and Gerakan, whose top leaders have called for a review of the ISA, that their MPs had not shown more support for the petition.
Lim said the failure of these two parties to translate the resolutions made at recent annual conferences - to push for a review of the ISA - would be tantamount to betraying their delegates.
“It means they have betrayed the mandate of the annual MCA and Gerakan delegates’ conference,” Lim said, adding that 74 Pakatan MPs signed the petition. The signatures of the remaining Pakatan MPs could not be obtained as they were overseas at the time.
BN MPs ‘afraid’ to show support
Fong Po Kuan (DAP-Batu Gajah) later revealed that 23 Barisan MPs and cabinet ministers who were approached had refused to sign the petition.
“Some said while they personally agreed with our action, they did not dare to place their signature because they have not received any instructions from the top (Barisan leadership) regarding the matter,” said Johari Abdul (PKR-Sungai Petani).
Kok, who submitted the motion to debate the ISA, said the “oppression” of even MPs by the authorities using the act should be looked at seriously by both Barisan and Pakatan parliamentarians.
“Members of parliament must defend their rights and integrity as elected representatives,” she said.
On another matter, Lim said he would like to meet with Home Minister Syed Hamid Albar to seek clarification regarding the revocation of Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) leader P Waythamoorthy’s passport.
Hindraf yesterday showed documents allegedly showing Waythamoorthy’s passport had been revoked by the Malaysian authorities.
Following the ‘disclosure’, Lim called for Syed Hamid to be referred to the Dewan Rakyat’s Special Privileges Committee for lying to the House.
Syed Hamid, however, was reported today to have said he - responding to moves by “relevant authorities” to cancel Waythamoorty’s passport - had directed that there be no such revocation so that Waythamoorthy could travel back to Malaysia freely.
He also lambasted Lim for claiming otherwise.
Still on the issue of Hindraf, Lim said there have been no additional facts or developments to warrant banning Hindraf if no reason had been uncovered in the past several months.
On the controversy surrounding the RM2.3 billion Eurocopter deal, Lim called for the Public Accounts Committee headed by Azmi Khalid (BN-Padang Besar) to work overtime in ensuring its investigations into the matter would be completed so that the issue could be debated in Parliament before it adjourns in December.
Lim Kit Siang
mi1: What happened to MCA. MIC, Gerakan, PPP - chicken bastards
PEOPLE'S POWER
There is a difference between UMNO and Barisan Nasional. I want to make it clear that it is not the Barisan Nasional (BN) government, but the UMNO government. It is not the government, but UMNO. Barisan Nasional is a coalition of unequals, not equals. UMNO is the big brother in BN. Therefore UMNO must be held responsible; and more importantly, UMNO must not be allowed to hide behind the BN banner. UMNO is the enemy, not BN. UMNO is a racist party which has perfected the art of divide and rule. If moderate Malays, the natives of Sabah and Sarawak, and the Chinese and Indians unite, then they can vote UMNO out of office.
ReplyDeleteFor decades UMNO has strengthened her position by destroying the independence of the judiciary. So much so that high officials and the Police can almost act with impunity.
I have come to the conclusion that the easy solution is to completely defeat UMNO in the next elections. We have to vote racist UMNO out of office. UMNO is bent on divide and rule, which has affected Malaysia badly. It is for the next generation of Malaysians to undo the damage done to Malaysia by UMNO. There is a dire need for moderate Malays at the political level. There is also a need for the natives of Sabah and Sarawak to form a third force to protect their own interests. Imagine how UMNO had dealt with Sabah; from a rich state, Sabah has been reduced to a poor state subservient to UMNO. There has to be an explanation. The only way is UMNO has to be voted out of office. The younger generation of Malaysians do not like racist politics and UMNO must be taught a lesson by the younger generation by voting UMNO out of office. Please vote for any party but UMNO/BN.
To my Sabah and Sarawak brothers and sisters I tell you that historically UMNO has always avoided a Royal Commission of Inquiry as much as possible many times. Historically, UMNO has misused the Internal Security Act numerous times. Any political party that is an accomplice to UMNO is also the enemy. Any political party that is a co-conspirator to UMNO is also the enemy. To my Sabah and Sarawak brothers and sisters I say that you should form a third force. A third force would require unity among Sabahans and Sarawakians.
To my Sabah and Sarawak natives, I need you to understand some things. Who is a so called bumiputra? Just about any Muslim who can obtain Malaysian citizenship can claim bumiputra benefits. How about the natives of Sabah and Sarawak? When it is beneficial to the Malays, the Malays cleverly put the Malays, the Orang Asli, and the natives of Sabah and Sarawak together. The Orang Asli of Malaya are not even mentioned in the constitution. Who are the bona fide indigenous people of Malaya? There are some who feel that the Orang Asli of Malaya are the indigenous people of Malaya. It may be possible that the Malays have usurped the position of indigenous people of Malaya and excluded the Orang Asli in the constitution. If we allowed the Orang Asli or the natives of Sabah and Sarawak to draft the constitution of Malaysia, it would look very different. So, it all depends on who drafts the constitution.
We have to get into the habit of putting people in office through votes, and removing people from office through votes. Nobody should be allowed to topple the government. We have to institutionalize the multi-party political system, one person one vote, and an independent judiciary.
In the 2004 elections (11th General Election), the voters gave good support to Mr.Abdullah Badawi. But reforms did not come. Why? Probably because UMNO had done well in the elections. If UMNO had done well in the elections, then the election results tell UMNO that the voters are satisfied with the status quo. If the voters are satisfied with UMNO, then no reforms are necessary. In the 2008 elections (12th General Elections), UMNO did not do well, but she managed to win. UMNO did lose the 2/3 majority in the Parliament, but she did win, nevertheless. Will UMNO undertake reforms now? I would not be surprised if she did not. Why should she? UMNO is still the winner in the elections; and she can plan to rise and may even succeed to rise again. So, as long as she wins, she will never undertake the reforms. So, how do the voters get the reforms that they need? The voters will get the reforms when UMNO is completely defeated in the 13th General Elections. If UMNO wins zero seats in the next elections (13th General Elections), then some other party would have to rule Malaysia. Let us call it Party B. If UMNO is completely defeated in the next elections (13th General Elections), then Party B would rule Malaysia. Would Party B undertake reforms? If Party B does not undertake reforms, then voters would know what to do.
There is no doubt that UMNO has used gerrymandering to strengthen herself. If we removed gerrymandering from UMNO, then there would be a reduced UMNO. So the non-UMNO voters of Malaysia have good reasons to vote against UMNO.
It is possible that UMNO has used the Police Force to strengthen herself. The Police Force is required to be neutral. But is the Police Force neutral? I appeal to the Police Force to be neutral.
UMNO is a race based political party and also the big brother of BN. So, the complete defeat of UMNO in the next elections is the only way to get reforms. The complete defeat of UMNO in the next elections is the only way to get a new beginning.
UMNO is inclined to believe that Malaysians cannot do anything if they are in any way dissatisfied. The voters, however, have to send a strong message to UMNO that the voters can do something: the voters can vote.
So, the next step for Malaysians is to completely defeat UMNO/BN in the next elections.