ISA Detentions woke up 'democratic behaviour' and courage in BN...?

Some really do not get the meaning of democracy...and the essence of democracy.

In a democratic society, of course, I have the right to say that I do not support Abdullah Ahmad Badawi as President of UMNO - or Bush as the US President - and call for his resignation...

Freedom of Expression... Freedom of Opinion ....all this is also a part of democracy...

Rais Yatim just do not get it....

Umno vice-president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin should not have asked the Prime Minister to step down as Malaysia practised democracy, said Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim.

“In a democratic country, such action should not take place because we need to respect each other’s views,” he said after attending a book launching ceremony organised by the Malaysian National Institute of Translation here. - - Star, 15/9/2008‘Muhyiddin wrong to seek PM’s resignation’.

It is the right of each and every member to voice his opinion about the leadership, about their programmes and action - and even to lobby amongst other members support for his/her position.

When Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, his Deputy, the Supreme Council and them Division leaders to earlier on the position that "it is decided".... "we have decided" - and this is how the leadership shal be now and in 2010 - and to go further and even prevent members discussion of these matters - that was 'undemocratic'. It was feudalistic behaviour - the 'King' decides and all the rest follows.... It was authoritarian...

If the President and the leaders of UMNO were more democratic, they would have removed that 'large quota requirement' hurdle that now will prevent many from contesting for the post of President and the other top posts in UMNO. They should be encouraging challenge - encouraging members to choose. In fact, the choice of the top leaders should vest in all its members....(Now, talking about that maybe in Malaysia - there should be an election for the Prime Minister where every Malaysian can vote)

Now, when it comes to the Cabinet - then the PM is almighty - and so he chooses who is in HIS cabinet and who is out...Thus, Abdullah Ahmad Badawi can sack Muhyiddin Yassin as his Minister anytime...

Oh yes, Abdullah Ahmad Badawi can just as easily get rid of Mohd Najib Razak, his DPM anytime - Mahathir did it several times did he not?

I am impressed that there seem to be rise in democratic behaviour in the BN today, when you see so many coming out and exercising their difference of opinion...especially about these recent arrests under the ISA...this is healthy and good..

MCA president Datuk Seri Ong Ka Ting said MCA felt that if the ISA was really necessary, it must only be invoked in the most extreme cases.

Otherwise, he said, the Act would be a threat to the rule of law and the fundamental liberties as enshrined in the Constitution.

“In fact, even the drafter of the ISA, the late Prof R.H. Hickling, had said the Act was only intended against communist insurgents and those bent on armed struggle.

“If at all national security is threatened, there must be strong evidence to show that. Otherwise, such detainees should be charged in an ordinary court of law and there are sufficient laws for this purpose,” he said.- Star, 15/9/2008 - BN members lash out at the arrests

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Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Tan Sri Bernard Dompok said the arrests of reporter Tan Hoon Cheng, Seputeh MP Teresa Kok and blogger Raja Petra Kamaruddin had put the Government in a bad light.

“For any arrest there must be a reason and it must be clearly explained to the public,” he said. - Star, 15/9/2008 - BN members lash out at the arrests

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MCA vice-president Datuk Seri Dr Fong Chan Onn criticised Home Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar’s explanation on the detention of Tan, who has since been released.

He said Syed Hamid’s explanation — that her arrest under the ISA was because her life was under threat — was “totally unacceptable.”

“It was a feeble attempt to justify the use of the ISA on Tan. By detaining her under the ISA, police have turned her into a victim of circumstances,” Dr Fong wrote in his blog www.fongchanonn.com.my yesterday.- Star, 15/9/2008 - BN members lash out at the arrests

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Subramaniam[Human Resources Minister Dr S Subramaniam] said as a government sensitive to the feelings of the people, it cannot be blind to the fact that a significant proportion of the rakyat abhor the ISA and would prefer it not be used.

"We have adequate laws in the country to deal with all forms of errant, irresponsible, and dangerous behaviour. Why not use them?

"The prospect of a person being detained without a chance of being heard and to defend himself is against the grains of present day popular belief," he added. - Malaysiakini, 14/9/2008, Another minister questions ISA dragnet

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Of course, you have Rais Yatim - who when he was out of government was involved in drafting the memorandum calling for the repeal of the ISA and all laws that allow for Detention Without Trial. Today, he is against the repeal - I hope that that Anwar Ibrahim, Lim Kit Siang and the Pakatan Rakyat also do not change their mind after seizing power...

Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim said some aspects of the ISA ought to be subjected to intermittent review but its function to prevent occurrences that divide the community should be respected..- Star, 15/9/2008 - BN members lash out at the arrests

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De facto Law Minister Datuk Zaid Ibrahim (pic) stuck his neck out against the Government by condemning the use of the Internal Security Act (ISA) against civilians.

He urged the Government to revert to the original purpose of the law, which was to curb communism.

“It is time for the Government to go back to the original spirit of the ISA and it should only be used on armed terrorists or those out to topple the Government by force.

...

“There were ample punitive law to act against lawbreakers without having to invoke the ISA,” Zaid said.

Zaid, who is a Minister in the Prime Minister’s department, said the use of the ISA also creates an impression of selective prosecution as the Government cannot seemingly incarcerate everybody but only a handful.

“In this latest episode of ISA, we (the Government) have generated an impression of selective prosecution since no action was taken against the person who allegedly uttered seditious remarks. We are saying that we are only acting against those who are disloyal to us.”

He said he was glad that Tan was released but was concerned over the continued detention of the other two. - Star, 15/9/2008 - Don't use ISA, says Zaid.

I must say that in the case of reporter Tan - it was a massive fumble on the part of the PM and the BN government - since the events before clearly showed that the report was true - and the said speaker of those words was also penalized by the UMNO. Remember Najib apologized. PM asked him to apologize...and all.

This sudden increase of 'democratic behaviour' within the UMNO and the BN may be a temporary phenomena which will end in a couple of weeks - or maybe, it is there to stay within the UMNO and the BN...

Maybe, the ISA detention has become that 'straw that broke the camel's back' - and their 'good' conscience can no longer keep them quite - they had to speak out (some very cautiously) against the PM and the current BN government...

Political survival is no longer dependent on the fact of you running under the BN symbol - the voters, when it comes to the BN candidates, seem to be looking beyond that and asking the question of whether they stood up for the good of the people. Some, who spoke out against the government of fair without fear, seem to have done better in the last elections...

Democracy is not just the right to vote once every 5 years - it is so much more than that...

May be good if you could also share your understanding of the meaning of a true democracy...