Dr M: No justification for arrest of bloggers, Teresa

PUTRAJAYA: There is no justification for the arrest of bloggers Raja Petra Kamarudin and Syed Azidi Syed Abdul Aziz, better known as Kickdefella, and Seputeh MP Teresa Kok, said Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

The former prime minister condemned the use of the Internal Security Act (ISA) against Raja Petra, who is the editor of controversial online news portal Malaysia Today, and Kok, a Selangor executive councillor and Seputeh MP.

Syed Azidi was detained for sedition on Wednesday for posting allegedly seditious statements in his blog.

Dr Mahathir said Kok’s arrest was not justified as there was no security reason at the moment but the Government could arrest her later for such a purpose if necessary.

He said if Kok was involved in trying to stop the azan (call for prayers), there should be an explanation that the subject was not something she should talk about.

Asked if he would agree for the ISA to be amended, he said there was no amendment during his time as the people who were enforcing it refused to amend it.

He said this to reporters after launching his book chedet.com Blogging to unblock at the Perdana Leadership Foundation here yesterday.

On him rejoining Umno, Dr Mahathir said he would wait for the right time to submit his application.