So it’s finally coming to pass. Once again when popular dissent begins to well up, it is immediately and foribly quashed by use of the Internal Security Act.
My comments after the news excerpt.
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From The Star 28 Nov 2007:
By JANE RITIKOS
PETALING JAYA: The Government will use the Internal Security Act (ISA) against street demonstrators who threaten national security and disrupt racial harmony if necessary, warned the Prime Minister.
“If there are reasons for us to use it, we will use it,” Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi stressed.
He was commenting on illegal street demonstrations held in Kuala Lumpur recently, including the latest by the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf), which claims to be fighting for the Hindus in Malaysia.
Abdullah said using the law, which allows for detention without trial, would be preventive action to spare the country untoward incidents that could affect its peace and national security.
“The ISA is there, if the situation warrants it, it will be used,” he told reporters at the RMAF air base in Subang here upon his return from Cairo yesterday.
On calls by certain quarters for the ISA to be invoked against illegal street demonstrators, Abdullah said: “I am very surprised that people want the ISA. I thought they never wanted it.”
The police, he said, would decide on the appropriate action to be taken.
On rallies being planned for next month, he said he would leave it to the police to assess whether they would be a threat to national security.
The annual Human Rights March organised by the Bar Council human rights committee is planned for next month.
Abdullah also warned that action would be taken against those who download and distribute the memorandum signed by Hindraf legal adviser lawyer P. Uthayakumar addressed to British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, which had been published in the Internet. The memorandum alleges persecution of Malaysian Indians..
He said the Government acknowledged freedom of the Internet but action could be taken against those who misuse it to spread allegations against the Government.
The memorandum appeals to Britain to refer Malaysia to the World Court for crimes against ethnic Indians. It also claimed that “100 over Indians were slashed and killed by the Umno-controlled Malaysian government in the Kampung Medan mini genocide”.
To this, Abdullah said that if Hindraf had indeed made such claim, Umno would act.
“We want to know what proof they have (to support their claim). This is a serious accusation because they say it was Umno,” he said.
On Hindraf’s action, he said: “They want to kiss the orang putih (British). They want the orang putih to take action because they are not satisfied with us”.
Abdullah said Hindraf got support from the Indian community who thought they would each get RM1mil in compensation from its class-action suit filed against the British Government for bringing Indians into Malaya to work as labourers.
The Prime Minister also said that everyone must realise that accusations against the Government were made because certain people thought that the election was around the corner, and this was the case in every elections.
“But we hear what they say. Some of the demands are in the process of being addressed while some have been addressed but they are still harping on it,” he said.
On Cameron Highlands MP S.K. Devamany’s comment in Parliament that the Hindraf demonstration showed there was frustration at the lower levels in the community, Abdullah said the Government must be fair to all.
“If we focus on the interest of one group, others will be jealous, others will complain,” he said.
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News article excerpts in bold italic. My analysis and comments follow each excerpt.
The Government will use the Internal Security Act (ISA) against street demonstrators who threaten national security and disrupt racial harmony if necessary, warned the Prime Minister.
‘Racial harmony’… UMNO’s particular definition of what constitutes ‘racial harmony’ would partly explain why the Government felt it could use the ISA on the HINDRAF protestors, who were probably exclusively Indian.
Whereas for the multi-racial Bersih Rally, they kept their hands off – instead using just chemical-laced water cannon, tear gas and shield bashes (as seen below and at link).
But as I’ve said before, it’s classic double standards and flip-flop stance shifting: The historic anti-Malayan Union protests were also almost exclusively Malays protesting for Malay rights. Should they then have been discounted, ignored and abused by the British before being arrested without trial?
On calls by certain quarters for the ISA to be invoked against illegal street demonstrators, Abdullah said: “I am very surprised that people want the ISA. I thought they never wanted it.”
I am not at all surprised, except at the (faked?) naivete of our PM. Of course certain quarters are calling for the use of the ISA. If you were to name them, you would find all the supremacists of certain groups, government cronies and political powermongers – not ordinary everyday folk who are at the mercy of sudden midnight detention.
On rallies being planned for next month, he said he would leave it to the police to assess whether they would be a threat to national security.
A real threat to national security, or just a political threat to Barisan Nasional power security?
Abdullah also warned that action would be taken against those who download and distribute the memorandum signed by Hindraf legal adviser lawyer P. Uthayakumar addressed to British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, which had been published in the Internet. The memorandum alleges persecution of Malaysian Indians.
Here is where the bloggers are being indirectly threatened for not succumbing to Government Enslavement of the Media (GEM).
He said the Government acknowledged freedom of the Internet but action could be taken against those who misuse it to spread allegations against the Government.
Whoops, what was I just saying? Time for EVERY SINGLE BLOGGER WHO DOES NOT SUPPORT BARISAN NASIONAL to be arrested – because all of us have at least one allegation against the ruling party!!!
The memorandum appeals to Britain to refer Malaysia to the World Court for crimes against ethnic Indians. It also claimed that “100 over Indians were slashed and killed by the Umno-controlled Malaysian government in the Kampung Medan mini genocide”.
To this, Abdullah said that if Hindraf had indeed made such claim, Umno would act.
“We want to know what proof they have (to support their claim). This is a serious accusation because they say it was Umno,” he said.
Claims such as the ones in this link I suppose.
On Hindraf’s action, he said: “They want to kiss the orang putih (British). They want the orang putih to take action because they are not satisfied with us”.
Absolutely spot on. Badawi seems to realize that the actual aim of the high-profile and quite absurd lawsuit against Britain was actually to highlight the grievances that many Malaysians have against the MALAYSIAN government!
The Prime Minister also said that everyone must realise that accusations against the Government were made because certain people thought that the election was around the corner, and this was the case in every elections.
Accusations are made continually, good sirs. It is just around election time that any of you bother to listen for grievances.
And after listening to our woes, your Deputy responds that we shouldn’t vote against Barisan even if we are dissatisfied with what it’s been doing to us!
“But we hear what they say. Some of the demands are in the process of being addressed while some have been addressed but they are still harping on it,” he said.
It’s been more than 40 years since Lee Kuan Yew got Singapore kicked out by demanding equal rights for all (all races, religions and even the Malay farmers and fishermen who gain nothing from rich Malay bigshots getting more % of the fat contracts) in a truly Malayasian Malaysia, a call which DAP is continuing up till today. (But not before some 1960’s Government Enslaved Media riot incitement, of course.)
The issue still has not been addressed. Is it any wonder then that there are still people harping on it?
Actually, it’s a minor miracle that there ARE still people who dare to raise the issue after the May 13 1969 incident, Ops Lalang in 1987, the recent Bersih Rally and HINDRAF rally police violence, and the repeated threats to bring back the bloodshed of Malaysia’s minorities.
On Cameron Highlands MP S.K. Devamany’s comment in Parliament that the Hindraf demonstration showed there was frustration at the lower levels in the community, Abdullah said the Government must be fair to all.
“If we focus on the interest of one group, others will be jealous, others will complain,” he said.
THEN WHY DON’T YOU START TREATING ALL MALAYSIANS FAIRLY REGARDLESS OF RACE AND RELIGION??!!!
WE’RE JEALOUS RIGHT NOW!!! WE’RE COMPLAINING RIGHT NOW!!!
BUT ALL YOU DO IS SPOUT FUZZY RHETORIC WHILE WAVING THE THREAT OF THE ISA IN OUR FACES!!!
Links to more info:
The social contract in Malaysia
May 13 1969 Incident (the Malaysian race riots)
Malaysian New Economic Policy (in response to the May 13 incident, allegedly to ensure more ‘fair’ distribution of wealth)
Ops Lalang (ISA round-up of various Opposition politicians, media members and religious leaders)
Ketuanan Melayu (Malay dominance)
Article 153 of the Constitution of Malaysia (which safeguards the special rigths of Malays)
Article 160 of the Constitution of Malaysia (defines what a Malay is – not at all related to racial lineage or genetics, but he or she must be a Muslim)
Internal Security Act of Malaysia (used to detain without trial for anything deemed a ‘security threat’ to peace and stability)
Sedition Act of Malaysia (prohibits any discourse deemed to be seditious – where ‘seditious’ can be defined however those in power wish to define it)
Religion in Malaysia
THE SCOTTTCAST 
