Zaid Ibrahim changes postion and now calls for repeal of ISA - Selamat Hari Raya

It was a good Hari Raya 2008 when I saw the Open Letter from Zaid Ibrahim to the Prime Minister calling very clearly for the repeal of the ISA.

Sir, you are still the prime minister and you still have the opportunity to leave your footprint in Malaysian history. I urge you to do so by repealing the ISA once and for all. - Malaysiakini, 30/9/2008, Zaid Ibrahim writes open letter to PM

Before this, Zaid's position was that he was not calling for the repeal of the ISA...only that it be not used against 'civilians'...

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.

“I am not calling for a repeal of the ISA but for it to be used only when there is a real threat to national security and not on civilians,” he told a press conference at his home in Pasir Hor here yesterday. - Star, 15/9/2008,Zaid Ibrahim: Resignation rejected (final update)

But today, Zaid Ibrahim has seen the light and is now calling for the REPEAL of the ISA.

ISA and other Detention Without Trial laws must all be repealed - there is NO justification for its retention in Malaysia. They cannot be reviewed...or amended - it must be repealed. There is no 2 ways about this.

REPEAL ISA AND ALL OTHER DETENTION WITHOUT TRIAL LAWS

RELEASE IMMEDIATELY AND UNCONDITIONALLY ALL THOSE WHO ARE CURRENTLY BEING DETAINED UNDER THE ISA AND THE OTHER DETENTION WITHOUT TRIAL LAWS.

Selamat Hari Raya to all who are being detained under these Detention Without Trial Laws, and their families and friends.

My hope and prayer is that this will be the last Raya that you spend in detention...