Towards a Malaysian society without fear of ISA!

Apparently, there is no change within the ruling coalition though the power transition had been taken place since April, in term of commitment of the government towards human rights.

In the name of national security, the Internal Security Act 1960 (ISA) had repeatedly been misused by Umno/BN to pressurize its political enemies. Although most of the ISA detainees are 'conditionally' released recently, but the law is still exist, Malaysians are still not free from fear of ISA. Why not the ISA be abolished if Umno/BN is sincere on its move?

The justifications to abolish ISA are definite, where the act denies the fundamental right of the detainees for having a fair trial in the court of law. There is no judicial order is required for such detention, the locations of these holding centre are kept secret and detainees are transported to and from these centre in blindfolds. Visits by family members are purely discretionary and, contrary to Article 5 (3) of the Federal Constitution and Section 28A(4) of the Criminal Procedure Code, detainees are denied access to lawyers. During the initial detention period, detainees are commonly subject to torture and other cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment. Clearly, every detention under such draconian law is unconstitutional, unlawful and a violation of human rights.

Besides, every Malaysian citizen has the right to assemble peacefully to protest against the controversial act. The freedom of assembly is a basic human right as recognized in the Federal Constitution as well as in the United Nations' Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). Meanwhile, the responsibility of the police is to ensure the public security instead of using force against the demonstrators, firing tear gas and water cannon towards the compatriots. The police had acted perversely in the largest anti-ISA rally that held on 1st August at Kuala Lumpur where excessive force was used against the protesters and the police even arrested a lawyer from the Legal Aid Centre (LAC) for distributing pamphlets that educate people of their legal rights.

Is that the Prime Minister Dato Seri Najib Tun Razak's concept of '1Malaysia, People First, Performance Now' when his leadership is not willing to hear the people's voice and to fulfill their legitimate and reasonable demands?

UPHOLDING HUMAN RIGHTS, ABOLISH ISA NOW!!!