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Press Statement: Raja Petra's 2 year detention order is puzzling |
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Contributed by Ambiga Sreenevasan
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Tuesday, 23 September 2008 06:50pm |
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 The Malaysian Bar is deeply disappointed that the Government
has seen fit to issue a 2-year detention order under S8 of the ISA against Raja
Petra. The issue of the order on the eve of the hearing of his habeas corpus
application is troubling, as it undermines the application.
Raja Petra is being detained for writing articles, which have long been in the
public domain. Police reports have been lodged against him by various parties. If
offences have been committed, he can be charged in Court for them as he has been
in the past.
Raja Petra’s continued detention is therefore puzzling. The ISA is being used
against an individual where other avenues that afford him a chance to defend
himself, exist. It confirms the impression that the ISA is being used for
purposes other than national security. It is being used to stifle dissent.
Dato’ Ambiga Sreenevasan
President
Malaysian Bar
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This is indeed a very sad day for Malaysia. Every time the Internal Security Act (ISA) is invoked, it means that the powers-that-be have failed the rakyat jelata.
That the draconian ISA has been invoked - this time against prolific writer Raja Petra, the grandson of the first and illustrious Governor of Penang, the late Raja Tun Uda - is indeed an unadulterated shame.
From Bapa Malaysia Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haq's writings, it was the late Raja Tun Uda who, as Menteri Besar of Selangor, alienated a piece of land to Umno for its first headquarters.
To me, Raja Petra has consistently shown through his voluminous writings that he is as patriotic as any Malaysian can ever hope to be.
Even assuming that Raja Petra has committed any offence - and no one is conceding that at this moment in time just as no one claims human infallibility - the ordinary laws of the land should suffice in dealing with such offences.
Raja Petra has never been known to be a violent man. Why is this unconscionable ISA intended for armed terrorists and armed subversive elements being invoked against Raja Petra?
Is the ISA the price that Malaysian patriots have to pay?
I pray for my country ... and I cry while praying and ...
Stephen Tan Ban Cheng