Abdullahs government not pro-reform
Beh Lih YiPublished: Sep 7, 2005 9:52 AM | Updated: Jan 29, 2008 10:21 AM
Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's government is not up to the par of a 'pro-reform government' even after almost two years of his premiership, an opposition leader commented.
Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's government is not up to the par of a 'pro-reform government' even after almost two years of his premiership, an opposition leader commented.
Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) Youth chief Mohd Ezam Mohd Nor said today that although Abdullah had repeatedly pledged his political will to reform, there was still no genuine reform.
"If Abdullah and his government are serious about reform, repressive laws such as the Internal Security Act (ISA) and Official Secrets Act would have been repealed or amended," he said.
"Come October, it will be his second anniversary as prime minister. However, as none of the repressive laws have been repealed, he is not pro-reform," Ezam, a former ISA detainee, pointed out.
Drawing a comparison between Abdullah's government with that of (former Indonesian president) BJ Habibie who took over as president after 30 years of Suharto's presidency, Ezam said that Habibie amended many repressive laws in just 14 months.
He urged Abdullah to propose amending or abolishing the repressive laws in the coming Parliament sitting slated for Sept 19.
Keadilan will "officially declare" Abdullah's government as not pro-reform if he fails to do so, Ezam said.
Abdullah took over from Dr Mahathir Mohamad who was prime minister for 22 years in October 2003 and vowed to put good governance and transparency as his priorities.
10,000 anti-ISA cards
Ezam was speaking at a press conference organised by the Abolish ISA Movement (AIM) - a coalition of 82 bodies - in Kuala Lumpur today.
Also speaking at the event, former ISA detainee Dr Badrulamin Bahron said the Islam Hadhari or Civilisational Islam concept mooted by Abdullah contradicted with the tortures of detainees under the name of ISA.
Meanwhile, AIM chairperson Syed Ibrahim Syed Noh announced that the coalition will hand over 10,000 anti-ISA postcards to the Prime Minister's office on Friday morning.
The campaign demands the government to stop all forms of tortures on ISA detainees and to release those held for more than four years immediately.
AIM is currently on a campaign drive for nine ISA detainees, including the son of Kelantan Menteri Besar Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat, who will finish serving their four-year ISA detention over alleged links to terrorism activities by the end of this month.
AIM is planning a series of activities to step up pressures on the government to release the nine, including a procession expected to be joined by hundreds in front of the Kamunting detention camp on Sept 24.
Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) Youth chief Mohd Ezam Mohd Nor said today that although Abdullah had repeatedly pledged his political will to reform, there was still no genuine reform. "If Abdullah and his government are serious about reform, repressive laws such as the Internal Security Act (ISA) and Official Secrets Act would have been repealed or amended," he said.
"Come October, it will be his second anniversary as prime minister. However, as none of the repressive laws have been repealed, he is not pro-reform," Ezam, a former ISA detainee, pointed out.
Drawing a comparison between Abdullah's government with that of (former Indonesian president) BJ Habibie who took over as president after 30 years of Suharto's presidency, Ezam said that Habibie amended many repressive laws in just 14 months.
He urged Abdullah to propose amending or abolishing the repressive laws in the coming Parliament sitting slated for Sept 19.
Keadilan will "officially declare" Abdullah's government as not pro-reform if he fails to do so, Ezam said.
Abdullah took over from Dr Mahathir Mohamad who was prime minister for 22 years in October 2003 and vowed to put good governance and transparency as his priorities.
10,000 anti-ISA cards
Ezam was speaking at a press conference organised by the Abolish ISA Movement (AIM) - a coalition of 82 bodies - in Kuala Lumpur today.
Also speaking at the event, former ISA detainee Dr Badrulamin Bahron said the Islam Hadhari or Civilisational Islam concept mooted by Abdullah contradicted with the tortures of detainees under the name of ISA.
Meanwhile, AIM chairperson Syed Ibrahim Syed Noh announced that the coalition will hand over 10,000 anti-ISA postcards to the Prime Minister's office on Friday morning. The campaign demands the government to stop all forms of tortures on ISA detainees and to release those held for more than four years immediately.
AIM is currently on a campaign drive for nine ISA detainees, including the son of Kelantan Menteri Besar Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat, who will finish serving their four-year ISA detention over alleged links to terrorism activities by the end of this month.
AIM is planning a series of activities to step up pressures on the government to release the nine, including a procession expected to be joined by hundreds in front of the Kamunting detention camp on Sept 24.
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