There are some things even the most powerful governments can't win and they are policies that defy their citizens' sense of fairness. When the people feel strongly against something no amount of pressure brought to bear on them by even the most authoritarian government will succeed and there are enough lessons from history that governments can learn from.

The rakyat's resentment of the ISA is one such instance of public displeasure. It is time the government do the decent and wise thing - abolish the ISA and release all ISA hostages. So far the government has failed to bring the matter into public debate and has merely brushed aside serious calls for its abolition, even from one of its own former ministers. This is not democratic governance.

If there are grounds to charge suspects then the government should present its case. The rakyat do not support the practice of imprisoning innocent civilians whose only crime in most cases is they dared to dissent. Many have been unfortunate political victims and religious scapegoats. Keeping them in jail is playing judge and jury and ironically without a trial. Even in a communist country you are told what your crime is and given a chance to defend yourself in court.

During Operasi Lalang in 1987, many innocent citizens were arrested and brutalised while under police custody. Most experienced psychological and physical torture in varying degrees in breach of their human rights. Those who have ordered the use of the ISA simply don't realise how many innocent people's lives are affected.

Callousness should not be a principle of governance. And it is timely that more and more Malaysians are standing up against this evil law that abrogates every principle of natural justice and human decency, not to mention that it is utterly un-Islamic.

The ISA and its use represents the ultimate abuse of power by the administration and its days are numbered. Coupled with the movement to abolish the ISA must be a new law to prevent the administration from abusing its power over the police and judiciary. There has to be a law against the police being used as the political enforcers of those in power.

The need for a professional and independent police force that will uphold the law without fear or favour is long, long overdue because for too long the integrity of the police has been compromised by political interference, and the ISA is one reason why. We have seen a former top cop charged and found guilty of assault. Such partisan behaviour betrays the hold politicians have over the police and this is not healthy.

If the government does not abolish the ISA then the rakyat has to take their case to the court of world opinion. Let the world decide if they want to support the government of a country that imprisons its citizens without a fair trial, without being charged and without justification. For as long as the ISA stays, it will blacken the image of the country. And it is no better than South Africa in its dark days as a police state.

For too long the government has played foul by using the ISA to pummel innocent people and it is time the rakyat stop this evil practice. The rakyat are no longer fooled by the government's duplicitous excuse of using the ISA for our national security when the truth is it is used unjustly to protect their own selfish interests. It is this that makes the ISA evil.

The most serious threat to the country's internal security are not the activists and dissenters who in reality are concerned and patriotic citizens, but corrupt and abusive politicians who do not respect the rule of law, have no regard for their country's welfare, participate in corrupt activities, and will do all in their power to ensure they stay in power.

The rakyat should be wary of those people because they are the real troublemakers and threat to national security. They should be exposed for what they really are.

The Hindraf march has come and gone but why are some of its leaders still in jail? If Hindraf had been a threat to the internal security of the country why has nothing untoward happened? It is proof the government is not serious about allowing the rakyat their freedom to protest and represent their legitimate interests.

It is one-sided in its use of the ISA as pro-government politicians and activists escape detention which makes the ISA an expedient political tool that the people feel is unfair.

Another instance of the government's unjust policy is its treatment of the Malay Bible which is banned and considered a threat to internal security. You can't be more self-contradictory than that when on one hand Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi wants Malaysians to publicise their freedom of religion in the country but on the other the government bans the most important book of Christians in the country's national language! This policy is so ridiculous that describing it as incompetence would be an euphemism.

If Malaysia is serious about being a progressive nation, a nation where the rule of law is respected, then it must do away with the ISA which by its existence and use undermines the principle that justice must not only be done but be seen to be done.

The government has had 51 years of unfettered use of this draconian law against its political opponents and religious scapegoats, it is time to stop. Abolish the ISA. Otherwise the government risks being abolished itself in the next elections and March 8 is a reminder of that possibility because we know that bad governance and bad laws all have a use by date, and the rakyat still has the last say.