Subscribe in a reader | Subscribe by Email TDM says if don't like ISA, don't vote for those who use them. So, asking people not to vote for BN?
Star, NST, and MK excerpts below:
The Star
On the Government using the Internal Security Act (ISA) against Hindraf leaders, Dr Mahathir said he himself had used the ISA before.
"It is up to the government and the people to decide this. You see, we are a democratic country.
"If the people selected to lead are the people who support the use of ISA, then they will use it. The choice is yours. I thought people approved the use of ISA when they supported me, so I implemented it."
However, Dr Mahathir felt that problems felt by any community ought to be addressed in other ways and that public assemblies should only be used as a last resort.
NST
When asked on the government’s decision to invoke the Internal Security Act (ISA) on the group behind the activities which threatened public order and national security, Dr Mahathir said: “I used the ISA too.
“It is up to the government and the people to decide; as you know we are a democratic country. If you elect people who are supportive of the ISA, naturally the ISA will be there.
“If you don’t like the ISA, you have to elect people who don’t like the ISA. The choice is yours.”
According to Dr Mahathir, he was elected based on the fact that he supported the ISA.
“I was elected by the people, so I thought the people approved the ISA, that’s why I implemented the ISA,” he said.
On claims of ethnic cleansing here, Dr Mahathir said he read a lot about ethnic cleansing in Bosnia.
“I have yet to see a lot of Indians being killed here. Malays killing Indians and all that…I think that’s a bit absurd.”
On street demonstrations, he said the people were entitled to raise (issues) but there were other ways of doing it.
“Not unless they are prevented from making their presentation in other ways.
“If they don’t have a choice, of course, they may resort to demonstrations. But if they have a choice, they have their own leaders to explain their problems. I think that should be their first choice,” he said.
MK
Former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad said today demonstrations should only be held as a last resort when other avenues of communicating grievances are unavailable.
Mahathir said that as long as the channels are still open for issues to be raised and conveyed to community leaders, he is against demonstrations.
“They are entitled to raise (the issues), but there are other ways of raising it,” Mahathir told a press conference at his Perdana Leadership Foundation office in Putrajaya.
“If they have no other choice, of course, they may resort to demonstrations. But if they have a choice, they have their own leaders, they can meet (and) they can explain their problems, I think that would be the first choice,” he added.
Mahathir – speaking after the launch of a book on ‘The Third World and International Law’ by legal expert Tungku Sofiah Jewa – was commenting on the spate of public gatherings organised recently, such as by polls watchdog coalition Bersih and Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf).
Also present at the press conference were Dr Siti Hasmah Mohamad Ali and Minister of Culture, Arts and Heritage Dr Rais Yatim.
While Bersih rallied about 40,000 people into the streets on Nov 10 in support of a petition to the King for electoral reform, about 30,000 rallied on Nov 25 in support of a Hindraf petition to the British embassy protesting discrimination against and marginalisation of ethnic Indians.
Following the crackdowns by the police on the events, civil society groups and organisations have pressed for the government to give greater freedom for public assemblies and to abolish laws requiring a police permit before public gatherings are held.
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Mahathir also denied that the Indian community had been refused opportunities to make their grievances known.
On claims of ethnic cleansing here as alleged by Hindraf, Mahathir said he read a lot about ethnic cleansing in Bosnia.
"I have yet to see a lot of Indians being killed here. Malays killing Indians and all that….I think that's a bit absurd."
Speaking on the use of the Internal Security Act (ISA) against five Hindraf leaders, Mahathir said if people were against the ISA – which provides for detention without trial – they should not vote to power a party whose politicians are in support of the act.
“As you know, we are a democratic country. If you elect people who are supportive of the ISA, naturally, the ISA will be there. If you don’t like the ISA, you have to elect people who don’t like the ISA. The choice is yours,” he said.
“I was elected despite the fact that I supported the ISA. I was elected by the people, so I thought the people approved the ISA. That’s why I implemented the ISA,” he added.
Many quarters have criticised the government’s detention of the ‘Hindraf 5' under the ISA as an act of ‘desperation‘.
