ISA: The fickle-mindedness of MCA and Gerakan leaders
For a while, Malaysians, or MCA and Gerakan members to be more specific, thought there is going to be new MCA and Gerakan emerging from the summit of both parties recently.
Koh said other areas of reforms should cover the Internal Security Act (ISA), Printing Presses and Publications Act (PPPA) and the University and University Colleges Act (UUCA).
Koh Tsu Koon, as reported by Malaysiakini Oct 11 2008
“Any outdated law should be subject to review. This is the position of the four MCA cabinet ministers. In cabinet meetings, we will pursue the matter,” he told a press conference held at the end of the party’s 55th annual general meeting in Kuala Lumpur.
According to him, the party had tabled a resolution on the ISA, which has been used by the government to detain civilians including political foes for indefinite periods of time without trial.
Delegates unanimously passed the resolution, which sought a review of the Act plus the provision of an oversight mechanism so as to ensure that the law would be used only against “terrorism and subversive elements”.
Ong Tee Keat as reported by Malaysiakini Oct 19 2008
However, when it comes to actions…. both MCA and Gerakan have proved that all those talks by their leaders are…. after all, cheap talks.
It was revealed today by Malaysiakini that only one brave BN MP from Sarawak, Billy Abit Jol of Parti Rakyat Sarawak, had signed a petition to urge the the prime minister to prioritise the debate on the Internal Security Act when Parliament reconvenes on Wednesday.
MCA and Gerakan members now know for sure, at least in as far as ISA is concerned, their leaders are just paying lip services to please the members during the conferences but in reality, they can’t do much about it, or choose not to do more about it.
The damage to the BN Government, after all, is already done when leaders of both parties condemned the ISA in their respective party conference recently. What is so hard to sign the petition if you really meant what you said? This is not about asking the BN Government to repeal ISA yet… it is just to prioritize the debate and the MCA and Gerakan lawmakers are running scared already?
2 Comments
Many things that happen these days are not in consonance with reasonable thinking minds. Perhaps we should pose a question to Billy Abot Jol why he did that instead.
Aiya, you not familiar with government machinery?
MCA and Gerakan sure working within the system to review ISA.
Logically, how can they behave like the opposition when they are members of the government?
Think lar.
Its already ground shaking for them to talk ISA review after being chicken for so long after Op Lalang.