As a supporter of Barisan Nasional, I think the police are downright stupid for using the Internal Security Act (ISA) to detain Keadilan leaders and reformasi activists. The action is seen to be too draconian by many ordinary people in the streets. The longer the ISA detention continues, the more votes BN is losing even among the middle ground.

Let the opposition speak freely and organise themselves, and people will see that they are nothing.

But if the government detains them under the ISA, it only makes them heroes and martyrs. Sympathy will transform into votes. Perhaps, the police do not realise this because they are not elected and need not account to the voters.