Political leaders cheer release of PSM 6

The release of the six Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) leaders appears to have brought together politicians from both sides of the divide in support of their freedom from detention under the Emergency Ordinance (EO).

In a flurry of posts on social networking site Twitter, political leaders expressed a mix of happiness and outrage - overjoyed with the release of the six after 28 days in detention and at the same time, incredulous over the reasons for their detention.

One of the first to comment on the release of the six was DAP adviser Lim Kit Siang, who described the release of the PSM 6 as a "victory" for the people and for reason.

"Informed PSM 6 released by police. Victory of people n reason. Hishammuddin/IGP shld apologise 4mala fide detention. Najib shld repeal EO," Lim said in his Twitter posting, referring to Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein, inspector-general of police Ismail Omar and Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak.

Another senior Pakatan leader, Senator Syed Husin Ali, said he was "very2 happy" with the release of the six and accused the police and Hishammuddin of "groping to justify" what he described as the EO6's illegal detention.

Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin posted a brief message on Twitter, hinting that he never agreed to the EO detentions from the very start.

"Shouldn't have been detained in the 1st place. I've done my small bit. Khalas (finished)," Khairy said.

Human Resources Minister Dr S Subramaniam, who had earlier urged the government to reconsider the detention of the PSM 6, said their release was a "good start" for the ruling government.

"It will correct the perception that the government conducts detentions arbitrarily," Subramaniam said when contacted, adding that the decision to let them go was based on multiple factors, including public and political pressure, and "the fact that the police have done their investigations".

Still no excuse for detentions

However, DAP national publicity secretary Tony Pua remained unforgiving, questioning the authorities' rationale for detaining the PSM leaders.

"Ask Najib, so what exactly did he achieve by locking up the PSM #EO6 for 1 month? Extinguished a communist revolution? Nincompoops," Pua tweeted.

Gerakan deputy president Chang Ko Youn (right) also levelled criticism at the police detaining the PSM 6, though he stopped short of accusing them of acting against the law.

"This whole episode has raised questions on the use of this ordinance. The police must be judicious and careful in using this enactment, more so as it is a form of preventive detention that impedes one's personal liberty.

"Also the charges of reviving communism levelled against the PSM 6 must be substantiated, and if the authorities are unable to do so, then matter must be put to rest," Chang said in a statement.

PKR vice-president Tian Chua indicated that the release of the PSM 6 was only a small part of the battle to "liberate" the country from "oppression".

"Congrats to Dr Jeyakumar #EO6! Freedom at last! We must continue to liberate Msia from EO, ISA & BN oppression," Tian Chua said in his tweet.

Fellow PKR vice-president Nurul Izzah Anwar (left) took a less political slant in her comment on the release of the six, playfully advising them to not get caught the next time.

"Setinggi tinggi kesyukuran ke hadrat Ilahi. EO 6 sudah dibebaskan :) ! Jangan ditangkap lagi, tau," she wrote. (Highest praise to God. EO 6 have been released :) ! Don't get caught again, you know.)

Two lawyers who are part of a 20-member team which sought for the PSM 6's release welcomed their clients release before the hearing scheduled on Aug 5, with the order entering its review period next week.

Amer Hamzah Arshad said this goes to show the arrests and detentions were made in bad faith and with ulterior intent.

“The PSM 6 are not threats to public order. They never were. This incident is a clear example of how the police and the powers that be had abused preventive law for political purposes. The whole idea is to create ‘fear’ and spread propaganda so that the government can control the masses.

“But if you are able to break free of the shackles of fear created by the authorities which hinder your thinking, then you are able to reject the government’s propaganda! And you are able to reject preventive laws!”

Another lawyer who is part of the team, Baljit Singh Sidhu, said their release is the right thing to do.

“Enough is enough. It is an action (the release) which is long overdue,” said Baljit.

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