Only one BN MP signs petition for debate on ISA
Fauwaz Abdul Aziz
Oct 23, 08 4:19pm
Malaysiakini
One Barisan Nasional member of parliament was among 76 other MPs who signed an opposition-initiated petition calling for a debate of the review and repeal of the Internal Security Act (ISA) in the Dewan Rakyat when it reconvenes after the Deepavali break.
Revealing this today, Lim Kit Siang (DAP-Ipoh Timur) said while it is “historic” that as many as one-third of all MPs inked their support for the debate, the signatures did not reflect the public pronouncements of several top leaders of Barisan component parties who have called for a review of the preventive detention law.
“I am disappointed that up until now, only one Barisan Nasional MP has been willing to support this letter to the prime minister (Abdullah Ahmad Badawi), as this is not a commitment to abolish the ISA… but only a call to debate whether the ISA should be reviewed or repealed.”
Lim declined to reveal the identity of the sole Barisan MP who had signed the petition.
The DAP leader said this at a press conference held at Parliament lobby today. Lim was flanked by Kamaruddin Jaffar (PAS-Tumpat) and Saifuddin Nasution Ismail (PKR-Machang) and a dozen other Pakatan MPs.
The petition – the first of two on the issue that will be submitted soon to Abdullah who, as prime minister, decides the order of motions to be deliberated by the Dewan Rakyat – is the work of a parliamentary caucus set up to effect the release of Teresa Kok (DAP-Seputeh) from ISA detention.
Kok was detained for a week in mid-September under the ISA, ostensibly in relation to claims that she had gotten involved in moves to stop or lower the volume of azans (calls to prayer) from certain mosques. Both Kok and the said mosques have denied the allegations.
Following Kok’s release on Sep 19, the caucus has instead focused on the complete abolition of the ISA.
Lim noted that the situation does not bode well for MCA and Gerakan, whose top leaders have called for a review of the ISA, that their MPs had not shown more support for the petition.
Lim said the failure of these two parties to translate the resolutions made at recent annual conferences – to push for a review of the ISA – would be tantamount to betraying their delegates.
“It means they have betrayed the mandate of the annual MCA and Gerakan delegates’ conference,” Lim said, adding that 74 Pakatan MPs signed the petition. The signatures of the remaining Pakatan MPs could not be obtained as they were overseas at the time.
BN MPs ‘afraid’ to show support
Fong Po Kuan (DAP-Batu Gajah) later revealed that 23 Barisan MPs and cabinet ministers who were approached had refused to sign the petition.
“Some said while they personally agreed with our action, they did not dare to place their signature because they have not received any instructions from the top (Barisan leadership) regarding the matter,” said Johari Abdul (PKR-Sungai Petani).
Kok, who submitted the motion to debate the ISA, said the “oppression” of even MPs by the authorities using the act should be looked at seriously by both Barisan and Pakatan parliamentarians.
“Members of parliament must defend their rights and integrity as elected representatives,” she said.
On another matter, Lim said he would like to meet with Home Minister Syed Hamid Albar to seek clarification regarding the revocation of Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) leader P Waythamoorthy’s passport.
Hindraf yesterday showed documents allegedly showing Waythamoorthy’s passport had been revoked by the Malaysian authorities.
Following the ‘disclosure’, Lim called for Syed Hamid to be referred to the Dewan Rakyat’s Special Privileges Committee for lying to the House.
Syed Hamid, however, was reported today to have said he – responding to moves by “relevant authorities” to cancel Waythamoorty’s passport – had directed that there be no such revocation so that Waythamoorthy could travel back to Malaysia freely.
He also lambasted Lim for claiming otherwise.
Still on the issue of Hindraf, Lim said there have been no additional facts or developments to warrant banning Hindraf if no reason had been uncovered in the past several months.
On the controversy surrounding the RM2.3 billion Eurocopter deal, Lim called for the Public Accounts Committee headed by Azmi Khalid (BN-Padang Besar) to work overtime in ensuring its investigations into the matter would be completed so that the issue could be debated in Parliament before it adjourns in December.
(2) Only one BN lawmaker supports ISA debate
The Malaysian Insider
By Shannon Teoh
KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 23 — A Barisan Nasional MP and two independents are among 77 mostly opposition legislators who have so far signed a petition to the Prime Minister calling for a debate in Parliament to review or repeal the Internal Security Act.
The anti-ISA parliamentary caucus did not, however, reveal the name of the BN MP, but chairman Lim Kit Siang of the DAP said he hopes to get more MPs from the BN to sign the petition and make it a bipartisan effort.
Lim told reporters in the Parliament lobby today that 77 MPs had signed a petition calling for Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to prioritise a motion to debate the review and repeal of the Internal Security Act when the House reconvenes next Wednesday.
“This includes one BN MP, two independents and 74 Pakatan Rakyat MPs,” the Ipoh Timur MP said, explaining later that other PR legislators were out of town and unable to sign the petition.
He also revealed that the two independents were Datuk Dr Chua Soon Bui and Eric Enchin Majimbun, the MPs from SAPP, which recently exited the BN coalition.
“If more than a third of MPs show their desire to debate this issue, then the Prime Minister must make it a top priority if parliamentary democracy has any meaning here. If he says no, he is completely irresponsible.
“I regret that only one BN MP has supported the motion,” the DAP parliamentary leader said, adding that it was not even a motion to abolish the ISA but merely to debate it.
Caucus secretary Fong Po Kuan also stated that 23 BN MPs had been approached so far to sign the petition but only one agreed.
PKR Sungai Petani MP Johari Abdul said that “some personally agreed but did not dare sign as they needed to see what those above had to say. Maybe in three or four days they will change their mind.”
“At their national delegates conferences, both Gerakan and MCA called for a repeal of the ISA. By not supporting this petition their ministers and MPs have betrayed the trust of their delegates,” Lim added.
He also threw a challenge to Gerakan and MCA MPs, saying he hoped they would prove him wrong.
“I will willingly retract my statement if they sign the petition,” he said.
PKR strategist Saifuddin Nasution Ismail added that the debate was important as the law clashes with universal values of justice and one must be given rights such as a fair trial and right of appeal.
“These are clearly not available in this Act. If this issue cannot be discussed in Parliament, then I do not know where else,” he said.
Pas secretary-general Datuk Kamaruddin Jaafar recalled that Datuk Bung Mokhtar (BN-Kinabantangan) had raised the issue of the ISA and it had caused a big debate in Dewan Rakyat.
“This is because it is such a hot topic so there is no reason for the government to deny the desire of such a large number of MPs,” he said.