The de-registration of PBDS is amazing, simply amazing. How can we, in any civilised sense, allow the government of the day to de-register a political party, without a full court hearing?

What if the government does not like the leadership of a political party, any political party? It has the power, the legal power to outlaw that party be it in the government or in the opposition.

This power is totally opposite to a democracy which survives on the fundamental principle that there must be freedom to associate.

If a party is opposed to the government, it is forever beholden to the government and must continuously behave itself or else face the prospect of being de-registered. In this kind of environment, how can democracy survive?

The harsh draconian laws of the ex-dictator should be put aside. The Abdullah government is a disappointment.