Malaysiakini launched its first book yesterday a compilation of articles written by the news website's columnist, Hishamuddin Rais, prior to his detention under the Internal Security Act last year.

The title of the book, Pilihanraya atau pilihan jalanraya (To the polls or to the streets), was taken from a question Hishamuddin posed in an article he wrote a month before he was arrested.

Also launched last night at the Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall in Kuala Lumpur, was Bumi dipijak (Our home), a collection of articles by Lee Ban Chen, also a malaysiakini columnist.

The book launch was jointly held with a forum organised by human rights organisation Suaram in conjunction with the 42nd anniversary of the ISA.

Entitled '42 years of torture', the forum dissected decade by decade, the government's use of the ISA since the security law was enacted in 1960 to fight communist insurgency then.

Some 150 people, including Hishamuddin's father Mohd Rais Abdul Manaf, attended the event.

Hishamuddin, who was arrested on April 10 for allegedly trying to overthrow the government via militant means, is now under a two-year detention in the Kamunting Detention Centre in Perak.

'Dictators ousted by masses'

In a short note read out by his nephew Zulhazry Mohd Yusoff, Hishamuddin reminded all Malaysians about the laws that continue to deprive them of their rights as free individuals.

He said he hoped the book launch as well as the forum was not just a "ritual" to assuage the minds of the organiser and participants.

"I personally hold the view that if the general election could bring about any changes, it would have been banned by the government long time ago," he said.

Hishamuddin added that none of the dictators such as Ferdinand Marcos of Philippines and Augusto Pinochet of Chile were ousted via the ballot boxes.

"Those cruel leaders were chucked into the dustbin of history through the actions of the masses. This is the fact and law of the history at this point of time," he said.

His father was then presented with a copy of Hishamuddin's book.

Earlier, while introducing the book, veteran writer MGG Pillai said Hishamuddin has used "word, the most powerful weapon of the weak" to enlighten those who have been harassed by the establishment and to frighten the authorities.

"Through his weekly and sometimes fortnightly doses of thoughts, Hishamuddin very tellingly evokes the feelings and what we think but dare not write. He points out to us what can be done, and should be done," said Pillai.

'Plenty of Ban Chens'

Later, Hishamuddin's supporters came forward to recite a poem on 'people power' to commemorate the 478 days that the social activist had spent in detention.

But they were interrupted when 'police officers' charged into the hall, catching some audience members by surprise. Using a loudhailer, the 'authorities' warned the group for 'participating in an illegal assembly' and ordered them to disperse.

When the group defied the order, the 'police' started to 'whack' them.

It ended soon after with the performers for that was who they were, from the Tok Ampoo theatre group singing Suara Rakyat (People's Voice), one of the themes of the reformasi movement.

Meanwhile, Lee's Bumi dipijak was launched by Dr MK Rajkumar, a former Selangor branch chairperson of the now defunct Labour Party.

Rajkumar lamented that there were "plenty of Ban Chens those days but they are rare creatures now".

He said the issues raised in Lee's book mostly concerned mother tongue education and are more relevant today than ever.

"I'm both stimulated and troubled by the issues. We should discuss them and Ban Chen has helped open the debate with this book," he said.

Both Hishamuddin and Lee's books focus on social justice, democracy, and human rights. They are priced at RM18 and RM20 respectively, and are available at major book stores.