‘Syed Hamid must resign’

The release of well-known blogger Raja Petra Kamarudin was today welcomed by politicians and civil rights activists, who called it a triumph for the rule of law.

They now want the government to release all remaining detainees being held under the draconian Internal Security Act at the Kamunting detention camp in Perak.

Many are also calling for the resignation of Home Minister Syed Hamid Albar for abuse of power.

DAP’s Bukit Bendera Member of Parliament Liew Chin Tong congratulated Shah Alam High Court Judge Syed Ahmad Helmy Syed Ahmad for his courage in releasing the controversial blogger.

He, however, hoped Raja Petra would not suffer the same fate as DAP chairman Karpal Singh, who upon his release from ISA in 1988, was re-arrested just hours later.

“It would amount to contempt of court and I hope that the authorities will not misuse their power,” he told Malaysiakini today.

In freeing the popular blogger, Judge Syed Ahmad ruled that Raja Petra’s detention was illegal and unconstitutional because the home minister had not followed proper procedures in issuing the detention order.

Raja Petra was arrested on Sept 12 by police and was sent to the Kamunting detention camp on Sept 23.

United Hindu Religious Council deputy president AK Suppiah said the court decision showed that the government was palpably wrong to depict independent journalism and freedom of expression on civil rights and abuse of power as threats to national security.

He called on Syed Hamid to resign immediately for ordering the wrongful detention of Raja Petra, a sentiment shared by Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) national co-ordinator RS Thanenthiran.

The local Hindraf leader said the court decision proved that Syed Hamid had abused his ministerial power and misused ISA for political mileage.

“Since he became the home minister, Syed Hamid has been guilty of making serious ministerial blunders.

“He should own up his responsibility and resign. If not, the prime minister should sack him,” said Thanenthiran, who also called for the immediate release of all ISA detainees, including the Hindraf 5.

Better late than never

In the previous parliamentary term, Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, who was then the Internal Security Minister, told the House that 10,662 people had been detained under the ISA in between 1960 and 2005.

Among them, 4,139 were issued with formal detention orders and 2,066 were served with restriction orders governing their activities and where they live.

Currently, nearly 70 people are in detention in Kamunting. The longest serving detainees are businessmen Yazid Sufaat from Kedah and Suhaimi Mokhtar from Kuala Lumpur, who have been in detention since 2001 for alleged involvement in Jemaah Islamiah activities.

Save Ourselves co-ordinator BK Ong said the court decision raised questions about the validity of arresting people without any evidence to prove that they were threats to national security.

“The court should free all remaining ISA detainees and the onus is on the government to prove beyond reasonable doubt that they were a threat,” he said.

Athough he lamented that Raja Petra’s freedom should have came earlier, Penang MCA’s Bayan Baru division vice-chairperson Ooi Chuan Aik nonetheless felt the court’s delayed decision showed that the rule of law had prevailed.

“It showed that the country’s judges can make independent decisions and heed popular opinion.

“A person should always be given a fair and open trial. That’s natural justice,” he said.

Suhakam: Determine all cases alike

Meanwhile, Human Rights Commission also welcomed Raja Petra’s release, stating that it respected the court’s integrity and impartiality in not just handling the case but also in its positive view in protecting human rights.

“Based on this decision, Suhakam further suggests that perhaps it is most appropriate if the respective ministry could determine all cases alike and release the ISA detainees,” said the commission in a statement issued jointly by commissioners Simon Sipaun and Michael Yeoh Oon Kheng.

Suhakam also reiterated its stance that the ISA should be repealed and all other detainees should be released and tried in a court of law.

Malaysiakini
07/11/08