It was a raining day in Melaka this morning,the weather was rather cold but nice. But in Kuala Lumpur, about 15-20k people took to the street, responding to an opposition planned rally against a colonial-era detention law in Malaysia, the infamous ISA (Internal Security Act),which allow the government to imprison people without a trial.
The government has given enough warnings not to join in this protest yet the response was overwhelming! Police fired tear gas and water cannons and arrested 157 people in total. Latest number is reported >300 people.
The protesters were hoping to submit a petition to the king, Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin, calling for him denounce the Internal Security Act (ISA).
While the law main use is for detention without trial on national security grounds, but many in the country fear it is being used by the government to silence political dissent. Last year the ISA used was against a pro-opposition blogger, a journalist, and members of Hindraf, an outlawed Hindu rights group.
The planned gathering spots
I agree that this law has been misused to a certain extent especially for political gains but is this kind of protest really effective? Even not all PAS members adhered to the party leaders’ call that all members (~1 million people) should join in the rally. Why?
It’s simply a waste of public funds to mobilize so much resources to handle this mass gathering. Traffic jam was intolerable since yesterday:
On the other hand, the country is still fighting to contain the spread of H1N1 influenza pandemic. Why create more problem at this juncture?
If the opposition leaders, Anwar Ibrahim, Hadi Awang & Lim Kit Siang are really committed to get this law denounced, I’d suggest the followings:
They should get themselves arrested under the ISA law itself in today’s march. They should volunteer to be sent in to Kamunting camp (the detention camp for ISA) and be detained indefinitely. During detention, no visitors and letters. They should also insist no release be given to themselves if the government still adamant in keeping this century law.
I quote this kinda proposal based on proven selfless acts by the great leaders like Mohandas Gandhi & Nelson Mandela.
Nelson Mandela, the former President of South Africa who served 27 years in prison. He was only allowed one visitor and one letter every 6 months during his detention. He is currently a celebrated elder statesman who continues to voice his opinion on topical issues. Apartheid was no longer existed in South Africa. Democracy prevails today. This is what we called effective course. Mandela was also not power crazy as he was only in public office for 5 short years. Anwar? What do you think of him?
Mohandas Gandhi was the pioneer of satyagraha—resistance to tyranny through mass civil disobedience, firmly founded upon ahimsa or total non-violence—which led India to independence and has inspired movements for civil rights and freedom across the world.
His birthday, 2 October, is commemorated as a national holiday, and worldwide as the International Day of Non-Violence. He organized protests by peasants, farmers, and urban labourers concerning excessive land-tax and discrimination. Gandhi led nationwide campaigns to ease poverty, expand women’s rights, build religious and ethnic amity, end untouchability, and increase economic self-reliance. Above all, he aimed to achieve the independence of India from foreign domination.
Gandhi lived modestly in a self-sufficient residential community and wore the traditional Indian dhoti and shawl, woven with yarn he had hand spun on a charkha. He ate simple vegetarian food, and also undertook long fasts as a means of both self-purification and social protest.
Well, show us the guts and commitment that you want to fight for us,the rakyat, not for your own political agenda. If you go to the streets to protest the followings, i will join in:
- Inequality in career opportunities in public sectors.
- Non-bumiputra basic rights to education,health cares & government subsidies.
- Lousy broadband service and speed.
- Expensive imported cars till today.
to name a few….
Let’s see down the road if ISA will be abolished because of this mass gathering. I am pretty sure this will not happen but history will just record today as one of the ugliest days in our country’s history.
