ISA abolition due to ineffectiveness as instrument of fear

KOTA KINABALU, Sep 17, 2011: Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) President Datuk Yong Teck Lee said the announcement by the Prime Minister on the abolition of the Internal Security Act (ISA) is because it is no longer an effective instrument of fear.

He said the ISA abolition has got nothing to do with the BN government being suddenly enlightened on freedom for the people.

"It is shameful for BN leaders and ministers who now heap praises on the PM as though the PM or the BN government has only now awakened to the injustice of detention without trial allowed under the ISA.

"The fundamental purpose of the ISA is an instrument of fear. Like all instruments of fear, the ISA is to silence the minority in order to neutralise the majority. This is the psychology of fear tactics used in all countries, especially police states.

"What has happened in Malaysia in recent years, is that the people are no longer afraid of the ISA. Activists, media bloggers and politicians literally challenge the authorities to detain them under ISA. The latest display of the uselessness of ISA was the 709 July 9 Bersih Rally that challenged the ISA in its face. This shift in the evaporation of fear of ISA has made redundant the ISA.

"The last time that the ISA was used had back fired badly against the BN government. That was the September 12, 2008 detention of a Sin Chew Jit Po reporter," Yong said.