De facto Law Minister Zaid Ibrahim today threatened to resign if the government continues to use the Internal Security Act, which allows detention without trial, against any individuals.The outspoken Barisan Nasional politician also called for the immediate release of DAP MP Teresa Kok and controversial blogger Raja Petra Kamaruddin who were arrested under the tough security law last Friday.
"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.
"I'll try to meet with Prime Minister (Abdullah Ahmad Badawi) this week to convey to him my position. If (he considers) my position untenable, I will leave," he told Malaysiakini in a telephone interview from Kota Baru, Kelantan.
The minister, who is a lawyer by training, held a press conference in Kota Baru earlier, where he also spoke on the matter.
Use ISA to fight terror
Zaid, who is the minister in the Prime Minister's Department overseeing legal matters, said ISA should only be used to curb terrorism, which was the reason why it was first enacted.
"The problem with the ISA now is that it is used against certain people, it is a very unjust law," he added.
The ISA is a relic from the British colonial era, used to combat the communist insurgency. The Act earned notoriety after it was repeated invoked by the government to stifle dissent, leading many to call for its abolition.
However, the government has continued to defend the relevance of the draconian law on the grounds of national security.
Commenting further, Zaid said: "I am very sad that people like Teresa (right), 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," the minister said, adding that he did not see the need for the government to use such a "strong-arm tactic" against any individuals.
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, especially within the legal fraternity, as it was seen as a gesture by the prime minister to honour his pledge for judicial reforms.
tunku : when muhyiddin requested pak lah to think over about the transition matter and speed it up , zaid bombasted him and said that muhyiddin should resign or be sacked as he is not happy with pak lah decision. now zaid is not happy with pak lah(as the pm) decision on the ISA detention,hence he should resign asap.now don't tell us that it was not pak lah decision, he is consulted before action is taken.afterall even KB umno rejected his leadership.about the ISA detention, i don't agree that teresa and the reporter was held under ISA but as for RPK ,he deserved it.
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5 comments:
let us all rejoined in glory and use ISA again and again to get this fella to keep to his words and resign and never be heard ever again...
tq
This is likely Zaid’s way out of PM’s cabinet before it crumbles, he must have seen the writings on the wall. National security is not Zaid’s jurisdiction and therefore he’s most indiscipline to interfere in others, thus Zaid should resign rather than threatening PM. Like PM, as defacto law minister, Zaid had contributed nothing effective except problems and hatred to many. Zaid doesn’t fit in UMNO or Malaysian politics and he knows he is not wanted both within and outside the cabinet.
Yang dia ni sibuk sangat membela orang2 yang disumbat tu buat apa. Orang tu dah memang mencetuskan kekecohan. Kalau nak biar pun boleh memudaratkan. Bukannya sumbat sebab takda salah apa. Tak payah poyo lah.
Zaid should not threaten the PM.he should resign in the first place if he disagree about the use of ISA.
i dont think the real reason Zaid wanna quit is just because the use of ISA.perhaps he sees that BN is falling apart and he want to get away quickly.
or perhaps it's because of the UMNO nomination that is just around the corner and he wanna be vocal to gain supports from other UMNO members.
Zaid tak perlu hendak ugut.terus saja letak jawatan dari terus berbicara.
hari penamaan calon sudah tiba dan Zaid adalah salah seorang yang lantang bersuara ketika ini.ini bagi meraih sokongan dari ahli-ahli UMNO yang lain.
dalam kenyataan lain,Syed Hamir Albar pula membidas kenyataan dari Zaid.ini kerana seolah-olah Zaid memberikan kritikan yang kementerian dibawah Syed Hamid tidak tahu cara untuk menjalankan tugas.
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