Isu ISA punca kabinet Abdullah bertelagah sesama sendiri

PASIR PUTEH, 17 Sept (Hrkh) -- Imej kerajaan Barisan Nasional (BN) kini semakin menjunam apabila banyak tindakannya kebelakangan ini tersasar jauh sehingga menjadi medan amukkan sesama sendiri.

Isu ISA ternyata menyebabkan Umno dan BN mengelusur ke bawah sehingga membawa kepada perletakan jawatan Menteri di Jabatan Perdana Menteri, Dato' Zaid Ibrahim.

Naib Presiden PAS, Dato' Husam Musa berkata, kerajaan BN tidak mampu mempertahankan asas penahanan terhadap Editor Malaysia-Today, Raja Petra Kamarudin dan anggota Exco Kerajaan Selangor, Teresa Kok dan wartawan Sin Chew Daily, Tan Hoon Cheng.

"Kerajaan BN menjadi lebih buruk selagi mempertahankan penahanan Raja Petra dan Teresa di bawah tahanan ISA kerana tindakan tersebut jelas tidak dipersetujui menteri kabinet sendiri.

"Dato' Seri Dr Rais Yatim dan Zaid tidak setuju. Zaid pula sanggup meletak jawatan. Ini satu pukulan berat kepada kerajaan," katanya selepas menyampaikan sumbangan cek kepada seorang kanak-kanak berusia dua tahun yang mengidap sakit jantung.

Pada 12 September lalu Raja Petra, Teresa dan Tan Hoon ditahan di bawah tahanan ISA.

Bagaimana wartawan wanita akhbar berbahasa Cina itu dibebaskan selepas 18 jam kemudian .

Husam yang juga anggota Exco kerajaan negeri berkata, ada pihak yang tidak bertanggungjawab memutar belit faktor penangkapan ke atas Teresa yang dikatakan cuba menghalang penggunaan alat pembesar suara ketika azan di sebuah masjid di Selangor baru-baru ini.

"Sedangkan ahli jawatankuasa masjid terbabit sudah buat kenyataan bertulis bahawa perkara ini tidak pernah berlaku, tetapi yang terjadi pada masa itu ialah kerosakan sistem pembesar suara sehingga suara azan tidak kedengaran," katanya.

Oleh itu kerajaan BN perlu membebaskan segera mereka sebelum situasi lebih buruk menimpa kerajaan yang ada sekarang.

ISA kejam, Islam bukan agama yang bacul - Mufti Perlis

MUFTI Perlis, Dr Muhd Asri Zainul Abidin, kelmarin mengkritik penahanan tiga orang di bawah Akta Keselamatan Dalam Negeri (ISA) sambil berkata orang yang tertuduh harus diberi peluang menjelaskan kesalahan mereka.

Beliau berkata Islam tidak memerlukan ISA untuk mempertahankan kemurnian agama itu, sambil menambah bahawa Al-Quran dan hadis harus digunakan sebagai panduan untuk menyiasat jika seseorang didakwa menghina Islam.

'Jadi tidak ada alasan menahan orang dengan tidak memberi peluang membela diri. Ini adalah satu tindakan yang salah. Sekiranya orang itu bersalah dari segi hukum agama, buktikan dari segi dalil-dalil agama,' kata Dr Asri.

'Cara kita tangkap orang guna ISA atas kesalahan agama tidak akan menghilangkan salahfaham terhadap Islam. Seharusnya diperjelaskan dulu apa kesalahan itu.

Kalau misalnya orang itu menghina Islam atau menyeleweng, buktikan dulu berdasarkan Quran dan hadis,' jelasnya lagi.

Menurutnya, Islam 'bukan agama yang bacul' tetapi tindakan ISA itu atas kesalahan yang berkaitan dengan agama tersebut 'seolah-olah menggambarkan orang Islam tidak mampu berhujah, terus tangkap orang'.

Sambil mengingatkan bahayanya tindakan ISA itu, Dr Asri berkata adalah 'kejam' menahan seseorang selama dua tahun tanpa menjalani proses kehakiman terdahulu dan menggesa Jabatan Kemajuan Islam Malaysia (Jakim) memainkan peranan lebih aktif dalam memberi penjelasan mengenai Islam

Angkatan Belia Islam M’sia (ABIM) condemns use of ISA!

Press Statement :

ABIM Condemns The Use Of Internal Security Act

The Muslim Youth Movement of Malaysia (ABIM) strongly affirms that Malaysia is a country of laws not of men. We are a country which respects the rule of law and its equal application to all citizens under our Constitution and our guiding Islamic principles. At no time should a person be detained without undergoing due process of law, in which the right to fair hearing is of utmost importance, and criminal prosecution initiated for unreasonable purposes. Such an action, regardless of the initiating party, goes against the principles of natural justice and the Syari’ah which mandates impartiality, justice and fairness.

We strongly condemn the detentions of blogger Raja Petra Kamaruddin and Seputeh MP Teresa Kok under the draconian law of the Internal Security Act (ISA). ISA is a draconian instrument that goes against all tenets of fairness, justice and demoting the rule of law. It promotes cruelty and injustice by denying its detainees the right to be heard and a fair trial. In addition, the ISA is also prone to political abuse and there have been instances where the detainees have been mistreated.

With regard to the detentions of the two under ISA, whatever the motives of the detaining authority and the reasons for the detention, it is incumbent upon us to demand conformity with these standards. Both of the detainees should be given immediate access to legal counsel and, if there is a strong criminal case against them, they should be immediately produced before the court to face criminal charges and to be allowed a fair hearing.

In like fashion, we call upon the media, both the conventional and the new media, to give like effect to the grounded principles of fairness as established by our faith. In this respect, the media is responsible to carry out fair reporting of the incidents by taking into consideration sensitivities of our multiracial and multi-religious society. To do less, either as a participant in the process or an observer, is to forsake the bedrock principles of our Faith.

Even though ABIM is against the use of the ISA, at the same time ABIM believes that no individuals should be allowed unlimited freedom to ridicule, disparage and scandalize issues especially those relating to religion and race that may result in a breakdown of social order. The right to criticize and comment must be exercised responsibly within the limits of propriety that is sensible within social realities of our country.

AZRIL MOHD AMIN
Vice President (International)
Muslim Youth Movement of Malaysia (ABIM)

A Solidarity To ISA

A candle burns at the DAP vigil at its Selangor headquarters last night in solidarity with Teresa Kok, Raja Petra Kamarudin, the Hindraf 5 and all those currently detained under the ISA. A fire lantern was also released during the vigil. - Picture by Choo Choy May

Zaid to attend “Free Teresa Kok” caucus meeting

Sassy MP

Zaid Ibrahim to attend - “Free MP Teresa Kok” parliamentary caucus inaugural meeting tomorrow

MP for Batu Gajah, Fong Po Kuan, co-ordinating secretary convening the inaugural meeting of the “Free MP Teresa Kok” parliamentary caucus in Parliament tomorrow (Wednesday 17.9.08) at 3 p.m. has informed me that Datuk Zaid Ibrahim will attend.

I phoned up Zaid from Kota Kinabalu where I am attending a Sabah DAP forum “Malaysia - Towards a New Era” and the first Minister in the nation’s history to have resigned from the Cabinet on a point of principle confirmed his concern for the incarceration of MP Teresa Kok under the Internal Security Act (ISA) and that he would attend the meeting of the proposed “Free MP Teresa Kok” parliamentary caucus.

I hope to see Barisan Nasional Ministers and MPs, as well as the Speaker and Deputy Speakers, attending the meeting to demonstrate the maturity of the Malaysian Parliament where Parliamentarians can distinguish between parliamentary and party considerations and unite on a single footing to advance the cause of a first-world Malaysian Parliament.

Zaid blames Cabinet, Umno members for opposing judiciary reforms

PUTRAJAYA: Datuk Zaid Ibrahim will not change his mind about quitting as Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, saying he has failed to reform the legal system.

He said he constantly met “a brick wall” from Cabinet members and Umno to many of his suggestions for reform.

The former de facto Law Minister, who remains a Senator, added he did not want problems arising from his proposals to plague Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi at a time when the latter was grappling with party conflicts and other challenges.

Zaid thanked Abdullah for suggesting he go on leave but said: “I am not tired. I’m just disappointed.”

He said he prayed Abdullah would remain Umno president and Prime Minister and accomplish what he had set out to do.

“I apologise to all Malaysians because of my weaknesses, I have failed,” he said in a 40-minute press conference at his office here yesterday.

“It has not been a mistake to take up the offer,” he stressed.

Asked why he was giving up when he had bluntly told journalists just in May that they should go on fighting for media freedom despite the obstacles over the past 20 years, Zaid said: “Maybe I’m not as courageous as you are. I agree change does take time but I was looking for some positive development to give me assurance.”

He maintained Abdullah had been supportive “within his own constraints.”

Asked whether Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim - if he formed a new Government - would be able to bring reform to the judiciary, Zaid replied: “He hasn’t formed the Government. It doesn’t matter whether the Prime Minister is Abdullah, Datuk Seri Najib (Tun Razak), Tengku Razaleigh (Ham-zah), (Tan Sri) Muyhiddin (Yassin) or Anwar. I don’t care; I just want to see transformation.”

Describing himself as a “man of deep responsibility”, Zaid lamented that in the six months he had been Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, he had suffered accusations of not standing up for Malays and Muslims and other criticisms in Parliament.

Naming Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Azalina Othman as one of his critics, Zaid rebutted :

“You can still be a champion for your race and think of the country.”

He said he tried but had failed to convince those in power to effect changes related to equality as prescribed in the Federal Constitution, so the Government could move forward.

Zaid had tendered his resignation to Abdullah on Monday.

In his letter, he had listed his frustrations in trying to achieve the reforms he had been tasked with doing; the final being the recent arrest of three people under the Internal Security Act.

Asked whether the public should give up on Abdullah’s promise for judicial reform since he - the person specifically tasked with achieving it - had resigned, he replied: “I don’t think everything should be pegged to me. I am not a hero. Someone else might be more acceptable.”

Asked whether he would leave Umno for opposition party PKR, Zaid admitted he had not been “treated well” by Umno - he was even suspended once on charges of money politics.

He said he had not decided on joining “PKR or anybody else,” adding he had not been courted.

Asked whether he had advice for the Government, Zaid said it must start trusting its own people.

“If not, you will always worry which policy benefits which group. You can have a race-based party but you don’t have to be racist bigots,” he said on his last day in office.

-The Star Online

ISA kekal

PUTRAJAYA 16 Sept. - Kerajaan akan terus mengekalkan Akta Keselamatan Dalam Negeri (ISA) bagi memastikan ketenteraman awam di negara ini terjamin, kata Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

Bagaimanapun Perdana Menteri berkata, sehingga kini tiada lagi sebarang penahanan di bawah akta tersebut akan dilakukan selepas tiga individu ditahan Jumaat lalu.

''ISA adalah baik sebab kita hendak pastikan apa yang kita nak kuat kuasakan adalah wajar dan adil," kata Perdana Menteri kepada pemberita selepas menemui semua ketua setiausaha kementerian di sini hari ini.

-Utusan Malaysia Online

TP - 'ISA adalah baik sebab kita hendak pastikan apa yang kita nak kuat kuasakan adalah wajar dan adil,"

Khak Ptuih..! Kepala Pak hang la Dolah...

Zaid akui gagal, hadapi tentangan pelbagai pihak

PUTRAJAYA: Menteri di Jabatan Perdana, Menteri Datuk Zaid Ibrahim hari ini mengakui kegagalannya memastikan ketelusan undang-undang dan kesaksamaan dalam segala hal diamalkan di negara ini.

"Saya minta maaf pada rakyat Malaysia. Saya telah gagal menegakkan prinsip yang saya pegang iaitu memastikan sistem perundangan yang telus dan saksama bagi semua rakyat.

"Saya gagal kerana dalam tempoh enam bulan dipertanggungjawabkan oleh Perdana Menteri menjaga hal ehwal undang-undang saya telah menghadapi banyak cabaran dan dinding batu. Saya menghadapi tentangan dari parti saya dan rakan dalam Kabinet sendiri yang tuduh kononnya saya bukan pejuang bangsa dan agama yang tulen, seolah-olah saya kurang Melayunya," katanya pada sidang media terakhirnya di pejabatnya di sini.

Zaid menghantar surat letak jawatan kepada Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi semalam.

Katanya, dengan meletakkan jawatan setelah hanya enam bulan sebagai menteri bukan bererti beliau mengaku kalah.

"Saya mengharapkan tindakan saya ini akan menyebabkan pihak-pihak tertentu terpanggil untuk menyokong perubahan. Jika dengan cara ini sahaja keadan akan berubah, saya anggap ia sesuatu yang positif," katanya sambil menambah sepanjang tempoh itu beliau terpaksa menghadapi pelbagai tohmahan dan saranan daripada anggota Dewan Rakyat dan Dewan Negara yang menggesa agar beliau dipecat kerana tidak membela bangsa.

Zahid menjelaskan, beliau menghantar surat peletakan jawatan kepada Perdana Menteri semalam dan pada sebelah petangnya beliau telah menemui Abdullah dikediaman rasminya di mana beliau telah menjelaskan secara terperinci sebab-sebab beliau meletakkan jawatan.

"Saya menerima tawaran menjadi menteri berpandukan prinsip dan keinginan untuk membantu Perdana Menteri dan Barisan Nasional berubah pendirian, pandangan, falsafah. Saya telah berterus terang kepada Perdana Menteri sejak dahulu lagi, khususnya keinginan saya mengurangkan unsur-unsur yang boleh menjurus kepada salah guna kuasa dalam badan perundangan dan memastikan ketelusan, dan Perdana Menteri telah bersetuju.

"Tetapi saya hanya berjaya mendapatkan pembayaran ex-gratia untuk bekas hakim yang dipecat dahulu. Oleh kerana saya kini menjadi satu masalah kepada Perdana Menteri, sedangkan beliau sendiri sedang menghadapi banyak cabaran, saya rasa lebih baik untuk Umno, untuk negara dan untuk semua jika saya meletakkan jawatan," katanya.

Menurutnya, Perdana Menteri telah menasihatkan beliau agar jangan meletakkan jawatan, tetapi mengambil cuti panjang, tetapi beliau menolaknya.

"Saya bukannya letih, saya kecewa. Jadi tidak perlu saya bercuti. Keputusan saya ialah berhenti. Saya ingin ambil kesempatan ini untuk meminta maaf pada rakyat Malaysia atas kelemahan saya. Ini adalah keputusan saya, dan juga isteri saya," tambahnya.

Ditanya sama ada beliau akan menyertai Parti Keadilan Nasional seperti yang diuar-uarkan oleh sesetengah pihak, Zaid enggan menjawab dengan jelas.

"Masih terlalu awal untuk saya membuat keputusan. Tetapi seperti yang anda maklum, saya telah diperlakukan kurang baik oleh Umno. Saya pernah digantung keahlian dan pandangan saya tidak diterima. Saya berfikiran terbuka (masuk PKR) dalam hal ini," katanya sambil menafikan bahawa beliau telah pun didatangi oleh pemimpin tertentu dalam PKR mengajaknya menyertai parti yang diterajui Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim itu.

Ditanya mengenai rancangan masa depan, Zaid berkata, beliau tidak berniat kembali ke karier guaman, sebaliknya akan menubuhkan yayasan khas untuk mengukuhkan perpaduan kaum yang beliau lihat semakin buruk hari ini.

Katanya yayasan itu akan dinamakan My (Malaysia) Hope -- atau Harapan Malaysia dan ia akan bergerak untuk mempromosi kesamarataan dalam segala hal di negara ini tanpa mengira kaum, bangsa dan agama.

-mSTAR Online

MCA: Release Kok, RPK from ISA

KUALA LUMPUR: The MCA has called for Seputeh MP Teresa Kok and Malaysia Today editor Raja Petra Kamaruddin to be released from their arrests under the Internal Security Act (ISA).

MCA president Datuk Seri Ong Ka Ting said Kok and Raja Petra should be investigated under other laws and be charged in court if there was evidence.

“To prevent possible future abuse of the ISA, the MCA central committee calls for a comprehensive review of the ISA so that it will apply strictly to cases relating to terrorism and subversive elements.

“There should also be a mechanism for checks and balances in the use of the ISA,” he said after chairing a six-hour meeting at Wisma MCA here on Tuesday.

Ong also said that the arrest of Sin Chew Daily reporter Tan Hoon Cheng for 18 hours under the ISA was totally uncalled for and the explanation given for her detention was unacceptable.

-The Star Online

Raja Petra gets family visit

breaking news updated 3.45pm Blogger Raja Petra Kamaruddin's wife Marina Abdullah was today allowed to meet her detained husband at federal police headquarters Bukit Aman this morning.

Marina, along with two daughters, has been in Bukit Aman since 10.30am.

This was their first visit following Raja Petra's arrest under the Internal Security Act last Friday.

According to Marina, police allowed the visit after she and their lawyers telephoned them yesterday morning.

"My husband has been harassed almost hourly. He has been deprived of proper sleep and does not look good," she said after the hour-long visit.

Asked if Raja Petra had been physically abused, Marina said he has not been physically tortured but that he has been “mentally abused.”

Raja Petra has lost a lot of weight, she said, after being in custody for five days. She claimed that his blood-sugar level has dropped.

On Hunger Strike?

Asked to comment on talk among supporters that Raja Petra is on a hunger strike, Marina said: "He told me that he is not on a hunger strike. However, he did not tell me whether or not he is eating.

“I’m not sure what to make it of it...before he said he was not on a hunger strike but...”

Their daughter Sara, 19, related that Raja Petra (left) was unhappy with the food and described it as “pig food”.

“He is in very bad shape. He looks very pale. We will be talking to the lawyers to see if we can do something about all this,” said Marina who appeared calm.

She also had a message from her husband to the rakyat - that they should take over government today.

Lawyers will file a writ of habeas corpus today seeking his release, she added.

On May 6, Raja Petra had been arrested under the Sedition Act and detained for three days in Sungai Buloh prison to facilitate police investigations over an article on his website MalaysiaToday.

At the time, he went on a hunger strike to protest his arrest. He ended this only when family members and lawyers persuaded him not to jeopardise his health.

Zaid Tetap Letak Jawatan Menteri Di Jabatan Perdana Menteri

PUTRAJAYA, 16 Sept (Bernama) -- Datuk Zaid Ibrahim tetap dengan keputusannya untuk melepaskan jawatan sebagai Menteri di Jabatan Perdana Menteri walaupun setelah diminta oleh Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi supaya memikirkannya semula.

"Saya sudah memikirkan sedalam-dalamnya untuk melepaskan jawatan walaupun dalam pertemuan dengan Perdana Menteri semalam beliau menasihatkan saya untuk bercuti," katanya kepada pemberita di sini hari ini.

Zaid berkata antara sebab peletakan jawatannya ialah kegagalan beliau memperkenalkan beberapa dasar baru dalam sistem perundangan selain kecewa dengan penggunaan Akta Keselamatan Dalam Negeri (ISA) yang pada anggapannya sudah disalah gunakan.

Beliau turut mengakui menerima banyak tentangan bukan sahaja daripada rakan dalam kabinet malah daripada anggota Umno.

"Banyak desakan yang suruh saya letak jawatan dalam persidangan Dewan Rakyat dan Dewan Negara yang kononnya saya bukan pejuang Melayu, pejuang bangsa dan pejuang Islam tetapi bagi saya bangsa Melayu akan lebih baik dengan dasar-dasar yang saya utamakan," katanya.

Teresa ditahan hingga 28 hari

Exco kerajaan negeri Selangor Teresa Kok akan ditahan mengikut Akta Keselamatan Dalam Negeri (ISA) selama 28 hari, kata
bapanya hari ini.

Kok Kim Tong, 74, berkata Teresa memberitahunya bahawa beliau akan ditahan bagi tempoh itu bermula semalam.

Kok dan isterinya Pong Seh Kwon, 71, sebelum itu dibenarkan berjumpa dengan anak mereka selama kira-kira sejam mulai 2 petang di ibu pejabat polis Bukit Aman.

Teresa, yang juga ahli parlimen Seputeh, ditahan menjelang tengah malam Jumaat lepas.

"Beliau berkata, polis memberi satu notis kepadanya semalam, yang
memaklumkan bahawa penahanannya akan dilanjutkan selama 28 hari.

"Polis juga memintanya menandatangani notis itu, tapi beliau enggan berbuat demikian," kata Kok, lapor Bernama.

Kok, yang ditemani pembantu khas anaknya Mandy Ooi Haw Voon pada pertemuan itu, berkata Teresa memberitahunya bahawa beliau sedang disiasat tentang tiga perkara.

Perkara-perkara tersebut adalah penggunaan tulisan jawi pada papan tanda, tuduhan melarang laungan azan di dua masjid dan laporan polis terhadapnya oleh beberapa pertubuhan Islam, termasuk Jabatan Agama Islam Selangor (Jais).

Bapa Teresa berkata, terdapat kira-kira 13 pegawai polis di dalam bilik berkenaan ketika beliau berjumpa dengan anaknya itu.

Menurut agensi berita itu lagi, Kok berkata, kehadiran sebegitu ramai pegawai polis ketika itu adalah tidak perlu.

Ditanya tentang keadaan Teresa, Kok berkata: "Beliau kelihatan tenang, tapi sangat lemah dan mukanya pucat... beliau mengalami cirit-birit dan sakit perut sejak malam semalam.

"Kata doktor, beliau mengalami tekanan darah rendah," kata Kok.

Kok berkata semasa pertemuan itu, beliau memberikan kepada anaknya ubat herba Cina dan pati ayam.

Beberapa pemimpin DAP, termasuk setiausaha agung parti itu Lim Guan Eng, Fong Kui Lun, Tony Pua dan Lim Kit Siang adalah antara mereka yang menunggu di luar Bukit Aman semasa Kok mengunjungi anaknya itu.

-malaysiakini

Teresa tuntut Utusan bayar RM30 juta

*gambar hiasan

Exco kanan kerajaan Selangor, Teresa Kok - yang kini ditahan bawah Akta Keselamatan Dalam Negeri (ISA) - menuntut Utusan Malaysia menarik balik sebuah artikel yang didakwa memfitnah dan merosakkan nama baiknya.

Beliau turut meminta akhbar berkenaan menyiarkan permohonan maafnya dengan segera dan membayar ganti rugi sebanyak RM30 juta, termasuk kos.

Teresa hari ini melalui peguamnya Sankara Nair turut menuntut akhbar milik Umno itu agar tidak mengulangi kata-kata, tuduhan dan komen yang dibuat seperti dalam kolum 'Cuit' itu.

Pada 10 September lalu, Utusan Malaysia menyiarkan artikel berjudul 'Azan, jawi, JAIS, UiTM dan ba-alif-ba-ya' (babi) yang menyebut "seorang YB wanita DAP yang berkaca mata" menasihatkan pengurusan sebuah surau supaya tidak melaungkan azan dengan kuat menggunakan pembesar suara, terutama pada waktu subuh.

Artikel Zaini Hassan itu mengulas kenyataan bekas menteri besar Selangor, Datuk Seri Dr Mohamad Khir Toyo yang dilaporkan berkata ''ada usaha oleh pihak tertentu (di Selangor) yang cuba menasihatkan pihak masjid dan surau supaya tidak menggunakan pembesar suara semasa melaungkan azan'', dua hari sebelumnya dalam akhbar yang sama.

Menurut surat tuntutan itu, artikel tulisan pengarang kanan akhbar itu didakwa menggambarkan Teresa sebagai "bersifat perkauman, fanatik agama, tidak boleh dipercayai, ahli politik yang teruk, tidak boleh bertolak ansur, tidak berprinsip serta menentang Melayu dan Islam."

Surat itu yang dihantar petang tadi itu juga menyebut penyiaran artikel itu mendedahkannya kepada kebencian, cemuhan, diejek dan dipandang rendah.

Siaran artikel berkenaan, menurut surat itu lagi, pada prinsipnya dibuat untuk mencari publisiti murahan dan sensasi dan menyebabkan kerosakan serius pada nama baik dan perwatakannya.

Akhbar itu diberikan masa 24 jam untuk mengemukakan jawapannya sebelum dikenakan tindakan saman fitnah.

-malaysiakini

Law Minister Zaid 'tenders resignation'

BREAKING NEWS! updated 5.10pm - De facto Law Minister Zaid Ibrahim has tendered his resignation over the government’s use of the Internal Security Act, which allows detention without trial, against three individuals last week.

According to a reliable source, Zaid’s resignation letter was delivered to the Prime Minister’s Office at around 2pm today.

Zaid had a one-hour meeting with Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi at his official residence this afternoon. He left without talking to journalists at about 5pm.

However, Zaid could not be reached for comments, He is expected to call a press conference later today.

The minister has expressed his disagreement to last Friday’s ISA dragnet where DAP parliamentarian and Selangor senior exco Teresa Kok, controversial blogger Raja Petra Kamaruddin and Sin Chew Daily reporter Tan Hoon Cheng were nabbed for allegedly being a threat to national security.

Zaid had earlier said that he would try to meet Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi some time this week to discuss the matter.

Malaysiakini was informed, however, that Zaid did not meet with his boss before the letter was submitted to PM’s office in Putrajaya this afternoon.

Yesterday, Zaid told Malaysiakini that the detainees should be charged in court.

"We have a government that commits to laws and reforms, we can't be using old-style politics or resort to creating fear. We have laws and they (the detainees) should be charged in court.""If my position is untenable, I will leave," he said.

Zaid argued that the ISA should only be used to curb terrorism, which was the reason why it was first enacted in 1960.

"The problem with the ISA now is that it is used against certain people, it is a very unjust law," he added.

Zaid also felt "very sad that people like Teresa, whom I know personally, can be seen as a threat."

"I can't see how a journalist doing her duty, or even Raja Petra, can be seen as a national threat. If their statements upset certain people, let the police investigate," he said.

Zaid added that he was against the government using such a "strong-arm tactic" against any individuals.

Little Support From Cabinet Colleagues

Zaid, who is the former Kota Baru MP, was made a senator and named as minister in charge of legal affairs during the cabinet reshuffle by premier Abdullah in March.

His appointment was lauded by many quarters as it was seen as a gesture by the prime minister to put in place judicial reforms.

Zaid lamented, however, that the latest ISA arrests dealt a blow to his six-month-long task of trying to regenerate the judiciary.

The minister also conceded that his views on certain matters do not go down well with his cabinet colleagues.

"I don't want to make it difficult for him (Abdullah). If my views are inconsistent or unsuitable (to that of the cabinet's), I can leave the government.

"It (the crackdown) is a setback (on my work). The government wanted to change certain things, otherwise they don't need me (to be in the cabinet)," he said.

A lawyer by training, Zaid was chairperson and senior partner in Zaid Ibrahim and Co - the largest law firms in the country - before he was appointed senator.

Upon his appointment as minister, Zaid had resigned from his position in the law firm and was replaced by Dr Nik Norzrul Thani.

It is not known whether Zaid, who established the company in 1987, will return to full-time practice.

Syed "Belit" Albar

Home Minister Syed Hamid Albar has made a U-turn on a

MCPX

remark that he was not involved in the detention of three individuals under the Internal Security Act (ISA) last Friday.

According to a front-page report today in Malay daily Utusan Malaysia, Syed Hamid now said he had approved the detentions on behalf of the government, in carrying out his duty as a cabinet minister and not as any ‘outsider’.

His comments were apparently a rebuttal of cabinet colleague, de facto law minister Zaid Ibrahim, who yesterday condemned the arrests and said he would quit if the government continues to use the ISA.

When contacted by Utusan yesterday, Syed Hamid said the ISA crackdown was a government decision and no minister, including Zaid, should question it.

He also said the government would be dealt an administrative crisis if each minister offers a view and questions the jurisdiction of another minister via the media.

Utusan then quoted Syed Hamid as saying: “Zaid is in the cabinet, if he has his own views, he should bring it up with the prime minister (Abdullah Ahmad Badawi). If every cabinet member openly debates through the media, we will have an administrative crisis.

“If a cabinet member is doing his job while another one openly criticises him, I don’t know where we are heading and what will happen.”

On Saturday, Syed Hamid had said he had not ordered the arrests and that the decision to hold DAP Seputeh MP Teresa Kok, blogger Raja Petra Kamarudin and Sin Chew Daily journalist Tan Hoon Cheng were made by the police on their own discretion.

Tan was released that evening, but the other two remain in police custody.

At the time, the minister reportedly said: “Under this action, the police need not refer to me. It’s their discretion and their assessment of what happened. There has been no malice on their part.”

Verbal Gaffe

He had also stressed he had not interfered with the police decision although he had been informed of the move.

“I am a minister. I am a politician. If I start to interfere, then people will say I have a political motive. It will send the wrong signal. I cannot interfere. This has to be done in accordance with the police exercise of their powers,” he had said.

Syed Hamid also subsequently claimed that Tan had been detained for her own safety, as death-threats had been made against her. However, this explanation has been widely panned.

Technically, the police are empowered to detain a person under the ISA for the initial 60-day period. The subsequent two-year detention order must be signed by the home minister.

The police force, nevertheless, comes under the jurisdiction of Syed Hamid as the home minister.

Hishamuddin Persoal Penggunaan ISA

PUTRAJAYA, 15 Sept (Bernama) -- Ketua Pergerakan Pemuda Umno Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein berkata beliau akan membangkitkan isu penggunaan Akta Keselamatan Dalam Negeri (ISA) bagi menahan wartawan Sin Chew Daily, Tan Hoon Cheng, Jumaat lalu, dalam mesyuarat Kabinet akan datang.

Hishammuddin, yang juga Menteri Pelajaran, berkata beliau secara peribadi tidak bersetuju dengan penggunaan ISA dengan tujuan menyelamatkan atau memberi perlindungan kepada mana-mana individu, sebagaimana alasan bagi penahanan wartawan itu.

Beliau bersetuju penggunaan ISA adalah bagi menjaga keselamatan negara.

"Bagi dua kes lain, (pengendali portal berita Malaysia Today, Raja Petra Kamarudin dan Exco Selangor Teresa Kok) saya rasa pihak berkuasa lebih mengetahui apa risiko dan apa yang mereka lakukan, dan saya tidak ada maklumat mengenainya untuk saya nyatakan sama ada ia patut atau tidak.

"Tapi dalam konteks wartawan itu, menteri berkenaan (Menteri Dalam Negeri Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar) telahpun menyatakan sebabnya dan secara peribadi saya rasa ISA tidak boleh digunakan untuk sebab yang disuarakan oleh menteri berkenaan," katanya kepada pemberita selepas melancarkan buku "Malaysia: From Traditional to Smart Schools - The Malaysian Education Odyssey" di sini hari ini.

Raja Petra, Kok dan Tan ditahan mengikut ISA pada Jumaat lepas dalam satu operasi polis terhadap beberapa individu yang terbabit mencetuskan isu perkauman dan persengketaan agama. Tan, bagaimanapun, dibebaskan pada pukul 2.30 petang keesokan harinya.

Berbeza dengan Menteri di Jabatan Perdana Menteri Datuk Zaid Ibrahim semalam yang menolak penggunaan ISA terhadap kes selain membabitkan anasir komunis dan pengganas, Hishammuddin berkata dalam negara berbilang kaum seperti negara ini, ancaman terhadap keselamatan negara berhubung isu perkauman dan agama perlu diambil kira.

M'sian shares dive on ISA scare

Malaysian shares have taken a dive, losing 1.52 percent at the midday break, amid increasing fears of rising political turmoil following a government crackdown last week.

A mass rally planned for tonight by the opposition alliance Pakatan Rakyat is also keeping investors on the sidelines, dealers said.

The planned gathering is to protest the arrest of three civilians under the draconian Internal Security Act (ISA) after market-close last Friday.

“There are many factors keeping share prices down, including weak overseas sentiment because of the plunge in Lehman Brothers shares in the US, but for the local market, it is mainly the ISA,” said Malaysian Investors Association president Dr PHS Lim when contacted.

“How can you arrest a journalist who was just reporting the situation? How can investors expect to get any transparent and accurate information?” he asked.

“This is the core of it - not just whether Pakatan or Barisan takes over the government - but whether we can have a strong regime that can provide a stable, fair and transparent environment for business people and investors.”

Sin Chew Daily journalist Tan Hoon Cheng, opposition politician Teresa Kok and MalaysiaToday editor Raja Petra Kamarudin were detained under the ISA, which allows for detention without trial.

However, the arrests triggered unexpectedly fierce domestic and worldwide condemnation. The furore has since pressured Abdullah into releasing Tan, who had exposed racist comments made last month by Umno chieftain Ahmad Ismail against the Chinese community.

Kok, the DAP MP for Seputeh, and blogger Raja Petra remain in police custody.

Disagreement Over View

Second Finance Minister Nor Mohamed Yakcop told reporters over the weekend that the action was necessary to ensure the long-term stability of the country and, at the same time, shore up investor confidence.

"There might surface some issues related to investments and the inflow of funds over the short term. Investors will wait and see over the next day or two,” he was quoted as saying by Bernama.

“But over the long term, there should be no problems. Investors from within and outside the country would like to see political and social stability to enable them to conduct their business in a stable environment."

Nevertheless, industry experts disagreed with the minister.

Said Lim: “I disagree with him completely. We won’t see investors coming back perhaps until after a new general election. Whoever takes over must show convincing authority in parliament.

“This is the only way to have stability because we don’t have transparency. We are not like Japan yet, where the bureaucracy is mostly neutral and separate from the politicians.”

Lim expects the benchmark Composite Index to stay weak in the short term, possibly breaching the psychological 1,000-point level soon. However, he expects strong support at 900 points, but warns against technical rebounds.

“Shares prices are now very cheap but because of the uncertainty, nobody dares to buy and get stuck. At this point, I don’t see any prospects for a sustainable technical rebound,” he said.

The Kuala Lumpur Composite index plummeted to 1,028.17 points, down by 15.86 points at the midday break.

Zaid serah surat letak jawatan

Datuk Zaid Ibrahim, yang mengkritik kerajaan kerana menggunakan Akta Keselamatan Dalam Negeri (ISA) minggu lepas, telah menyerahkan surat peletakan jawatan sebagai Menteri di Jabatan Perdana Menteri sebentar tadi.

Menurut sumber, surat tersebut diserahkan kepada pejabat Perdana Menteri di Putrajaya pada 2 petang.

Zaid melahirkan rasa tidak senangnya pada langkah kerajaan menangkap exco kerajaan Selangor dan juga ahli parlimen DAP Teresa Kok, pengendali blog Malaysia Today Raja Petra Kamaruddin dan wartawan Sin Chew Daily Tan Hoon Cheng atas dakwaan mengancam keselamatan negara, Jumaat lalu.

Laporan penuh di [sini]

Parents allowed to visit Kok

Parents of Seputeh parliamentarian Teresa Kok have been given access to visit their detained daughter at federal police headquarters in Bukit Aman today.

Seventy-four year old Kok Kim Tong and his wife entered Bukit Aman at about 2pm to visit Kok, who was arrested under the Internal Security Act on Friday night.

Kok's niece also accompanied them into the police headquarters. They had brought some food, books and a bible for Kok.

Some Selangor government documents were also passed through the parents for Kok to sign in her capacity as a state exco official.

Several party leaders, including secretary general Lim Guan Eng, party veteran Lim Kit Siang, Fong Kui Lun, Tony Pua and Kok's personal assistant Mandy Ooi are waiting outside Bukit Aman.

Earlier today, Kok's parents filed a writ of habeas corpus against the government against her detention.

[Full report to follow]

Mufti Perlis: ISA tidak diperlukan untuk bela ajaran Islam

PETALING JAYA: Mufti Perlis, Dr Asri Zainul Abidin hari ini menegur tindakan kerajaan menggunakan Akta Keselamatan Dalam Negeri (ISA) dalam isu agama dan mengheret pengendali laman web Malaysia Today, Raja Petra Kamarudin dan Ahli Parlimen DAP Seputeh, Teresa Kok yang masih ditahan di bawah peruntukan akta itu.

Ketika ditemui di Damansara Kim sebentar tadi, Dr Asri berkata, Islam dibina dari hujah dan dasar yang jelas, dan Islam juga tidak memerlukan ISA untuk membela ajarannya.

"Jadi tidak ada alasan untuk menahan orang dengan tidak memberi peluang membela diri. Ini adalah satu tindakan yang salah. Sekiranya orang itu mempunyai kesalahan dari segi hukum agama, buktikan dari segi dalil-dalil agama.

"Cara kita tangkap orang guna ISA atas kesalahan agama tidak akan menghilangkan salahfaham terhadap Islam. Seharusnya diperjelaskan dulu apa kesalahan itu. Kalau misalnya orang itu menghina Islam atau menyeleweng, buktikan dulu berdasarkan Quran dan hadis.

"Perlu diperdengarkan pertuduhan itu kepada orang yang dituduh itu. Mungkin juga, ia hanya satu salah faham. Yang penting perdengarkan dulu hujahnya," kata Mufti yang terkenal dengan kelantangannya mengeluarkan idea yang berani dan telus itu.

Kata Dr Asri lagi, "Islam bukan agama yang bacul. Perbuatan ISA kerana kesalahan agama seolah-olah menggambarkan orang Islam tidak mampu berhujah, terus tangkap orang. Mereka akan kata mereka benar kerana kita takut berhujah dengan dia."

Beliau juga turut mengingatkan betapa bahayanya tindakan ISA.

"Sekiranya ada aliran-aliran tertentu dalam kerajaan yang tidak setuju dengan pendapat satu aliran yang lain, adakah ruang ISA juga akan digunakan? Pernah berlaku dalam kerajaan Abbasiyah yang berpegang pada aliran Muktazilah ketika itu. Dia menghukum orang daripada aliran lain termasuk Imam-imam besar seperti Imam Ahmad juga turut dihukum.

"Kalau di zaman ini, mereka yang kendalikan agama itu dari aliran lain maka mereka yang dari aliran lain itu akan dihukum tanpa memberi peluang membela diri. Ini juga tidak sejajar dengan konsep keadilan dalam Islam," kata Dr Asri lagi.

Dari segi politik Islam atau siasah, kata beliau, kerajaan berhak menahan orang dan beri tempoh siasatan (14 hingga 30 hari) bergantung pada keperluan. Tapi kita tidak boleh hukum 2 tahun tanpa diadili. Ini zalim.

"Tuhan yang Maha Adil pun buat mahkamah di akhirat untuk setiap orang dibicarakan. Keadilan ditegakkan di dunia dan di akhirat. Tuhan yang Maha Adilpun memberi peluang untuk kita jawab kesalahan sedangkan Tuhan berhak buat apa saja. Jadi macam mana kita boleh tangkap orang tanpa memberi peluang mereka membela diri?," jelas beliau.

Kata Dr Asri, isu agama turut membabitkan sensitiviti agama lain. Tapi dari segi mempersoalkan identiti Islam seperti laungan azan, itu tidak boleh.

"Namun jika ada sungutan tentang bacaan-bacaan yang panjang sehingga menganggu orang awam, ulamak Islam juga tidak benarkan. Bacaan yang kuat tanpa keperluan atau kuliah agama dengan menggunakan pembesar suara sehingga menganggu ketenteraman awam, itu tidak perlu. Itu sudah diputuskan oleh ulamak-ulamak dari dulu lagi.

"Agama itu terhad. Azan itu azan. Begitu juga kuliah agama untuk diperdengarkan di pembesar suara, berpada untuk sidang yang mendengar sahaja," jelasnya.

Dr Asri juga menyentuh tentang peranan Jakim.

"Jakim berperanan menjelaskan isu-isu agama dan juga yang menyeleweng dari agama. Bukan sekadar menyokong seseorang dihadapkan tanpa bicara. Badan itu juga hendaklah bebas dari percaturan politik. Perjelaskan ketentuan peruntukan orang yang menghina Islam seperti isu Raja Petra. Itu bersifat politik, biarlah diuruskan oleh orang politik.

"Kalau hendak diikutkan yang menghina Islam, ramai lagi yang patut dibuat aduan. Jelaskan dulu apa yang perlu dilakukan?," soal Dr Asri.

Beliau juga meminta kerajaan memikirkan soal ISA ini sedalam-dalamnya.

"Seandainya satu hari nanti kerajaan bertukar rupa dan kalau berlaku pertukaran kuasa. Terlalu ramai nanti yang tidak boleh bersuara dan ISA mungkin diguna seluas-luasnya. Besok, bila kena pada kita, apa kita nak buat?," kata Dr Asri yang akan menghadiri Tazkirah Tarawih di Stadium Kota Bharu pada hari ini.

Beliau yang juga akan memberi ceramah di Kompleks Islam Lundang esok, sempena pelancaran Tabung Serambi Mekah yang akan dirasmikan oleh Menteri Besar Kelantan, juga mempersoalkan bagaimana pemimpin yang gagal kendalikan parti yang kecil mampu kendalikan negara yang besar.

"Takkan nak tunggu ada rusuhan atau kekacauan. Ketika itu sudah tidak boleh dipulihkan lagi. Sekali kekacauan tercetus, susah untuk dipulihkan.

Menurut pengamatan beliau, keadaan ini berlaku kerana pemimpin politik menganggap kedudukan politik itu seperti harta rompakan.

"Mereka bermati-matian untuk mendapatkannya sekalipun terpaksa menggunakan belanja yang besar kerana pulangan atau keuntungannya juga besar," kata beliau.

Jelas beliau, saluran politik digunakan untuk membina kekayaan diri. Inilah hasilnya bila kerakusan ini berlarutan. Tidak ada setiakawan dalam politik, musuh memusuhi, berpuak-puak kerana fikirkan survival politik masing-masing bukan survival rakyat yang dipertanggungjawabkan.

Yang paling ketara sekarang, pemimpin politik bukan sahaja gagal membawa rakyat keluar dari kemelut yang sedang dihadapi malah menjadikan keadaan lebih rumit.

"Bukan sahaja mereka gagal menyelesaikan masalah tapi mereka pula yang menimbulkan lebih banyak masalah lain," kata Dr Asri.

-mSTAR Online