It was Christmas then the New Year. Though I am sitting at home, enjoying the holiday with greetings and food, my heart goes out to the Malaysians who are still suffering under the controversial law, the ISA, a.k.a Ikut Suka Aku, or ‘I Simply Arrest’.

I just can’t forget the images where thousands of participants in various campaigns and gatherings called out to our beloved PM for the release of the victims of ISA, and also the scenes where anti-ISA supporters, including families and children of the detainees, appealed before the PM during the Hari Raya open house.

I was absolutely outraged by the comments of the PM. He said, ‘I feel disappointed’, ‘The crowd created a lot of unhappiness to those who were around’, and ‘We don’t prevent any group from coming to our open house, to wish Selamat Hari Raya, and to mix with other guests. This is the spirit of Hari Raya.’

Wasn’t that hypocritical? Like he said, it was a celebration for everyone and you welcomed everyone to the open house. Shouldn’t Hari Raya be a festival that shows love and care for those who are in need? And you were upset by people appearing asking for justice? You know what, looking at your smile, sometimes you really terrify me. I wonder how could some people characterise you as a good man.

After knowing of your direct rejection of the will of the public and more importantly to justice, I am not sure there are any other better terms I have for you. Excuse me, I do not mean to offend, I am just verbally expressing my view. Don’t worry, I oppose the tossing of shoes.

Listen to how the first prime minister of Malaysia, Tunku Abdul Rahman, defined the purpose of the ISA: ‘…be used solely against the communists. My cabinet colleagues and I gave a solemn promise to Parliament and the nation that the immense powers given to the government under the ISA would never be used to stop legitimate opposition and silence lawful dissent’.

Also, the third prime minister, Hussein Onn, stated that his administration had enforced the act only with a view to curb communist activity, and not to repress ‘lawful political opposition and democratic citizen activity’.

But what we see today is a whole different scenario. The locals know fairly well that the ISA has become the perfect tool for the government to repress ‘lawful political opposition and democratic citizen activity’.

In response to criticism on the ISA, the first internal security minister, Ismail Abdul Rahman, stated:

‘I maintained then and I maintain now the view that the Internal Security Act is essential to the security of this country especially when democracy is interpreted the way it is interpreted in this country. To those in opposition to the government, democracy is interpreted to mean absolute freedom, even the freedom to subvert the nation.

‘I am convinced that the Internal Security Act as practiced in Malaysia is not contrary to the fundamentals of democracy. Abuse of the act can be prevented by vigilant public opinion via elections, a free press and above all the parliament.’

I am speechless. What kind of comment was that? Free press? There is no free press in Malaysia. The media is well-controlled by the government. They only report what they are asked to report and they only tell the people what the government wants them to know.

Free press? A journalist was arrested because of her report on a racist remark. I repeat, she was arrested for reporting news, arrested for doing her job! Also, the government allowed the arrest of a parliament member based on a false accusation. What kind of country is this? It doesn’t sound like a country where truth prevails, does it?

Talking of the prevention of power abuse through the public opinion? Forget it. That statement is absolute nonsense seeing how many people have been arrested for raising their voices. On top of all the uncivilised actions taken by our police to oppose the civil rights movement, someone used the Child Protection Act o stop the spirit of change!

I urge that every Malaysian to please sign the petition to the Sultan of Selangor to have the Selangor police chief removed for his disastrous failure to perform his job to protect the citizens. And the there was the recent comment from a youth who joined the Jerit cycling campaign:

‘Before this, I always wanted to be a policeman when I grew up, but when I saw how they (the police) treated us, I think I'm going to change my ambition. I don't know what to become anymore.’

The blood will shoot out of my eyes anytime if I go on.

I do not believe in the change that the PM is capable or willing to bring to the nation before he takes off. I am even more doubtful on where his successor will lead this country into. ‘Yes, we can’, a slogan that has changed American history. Would a similar change come to Malaysia?

Happy New Year to everyone, especially to those detained for non-justifiable reasons.