83. DAP's 'Abolish ISA'

Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng has laid out a road map for ending the oppressive Internal Security Act, whereby the Pakatan Rakyat opposition alliance will go to Parliament to get rid of it.

Speaking at the ‘Abolish the ISA’ forum organised by his DAP party last night, Guan Eng said Pakatan will not be contented with merely organising gatherings against the tough security law.

Neither would Pakatan leaders spew mere rhetoric without commensurate action, he promised an audience of about 600.

"I myself will move a private members bill in Parliament for the abolition of the ISA, for its repeal," said Guan Eng to cheers from the audience.

"And then we will see which leaders of Barisan Nasional will practice what they preach and who speak with forked tongue," said Guan Eng, who was himself detained in 1987 at the Kamunting Prison where ISA detainees are usually held.

He said it would be an eye-opener for the nation to see whether BN MPs and ministers, who spoke against the ISA, would follow through and support the bill, or if they were merely paying lip service to soothe the public anger that followed the government’s recent crackdown.

DAP national organising secretary and Seputeh MP Teresa Kok, popular blogger Raja Petra Kamarudin and Sin Chew Daily reporter Tan Hoon Cheng were placed under ISA arrest on Sep 12.

While Kok and Tan have been released, Raja Petra was yesterday sent to Kamunting Prison in Perak to begin a two year detention order.

The arrests moved six cabinet ministers - and a score of Barisan leaders - to express strong objection against the draconian Act, which allows for prolonged detention without trial. They also called for its repeal or review.

Guan Eng singled out MCA leaders as well as his predecessor, Gerakan acting president Koh Tsu Koon, as being among those politicians who should now show their sincerity to the nation.

Meanwhile, Guan Eng praised former law minister Zaid Ibrahim, who resigned from the cabinet to protest the use of the ISA while there were other laws that could have been used by the government to prosecute the three civilians.

The first thing that Pakatan should do when it forms the federal government is repeal the ISA, he said.

Close down Kamunting 

If that does not occur during the next parliamentary session, Guan Eng said he would propose that Pakatan explore the possibility of closing down the Kamunting Prison through acquisition of the land on which the jail complex is built.

The Kamunting Prison is in Perak state, which is controlled by the Pakatan alliance.

"State governments have power over land. Under Section 3 of the Land Acquisition Act land can be acquired for economic development or for public purpose," said Guan Eng, who is also MP for Bagan.

"We will not let the Perak government pay the full costs of the acquisition. We have four other Pakatan governments who will chip in," he said.

He also said members of the public would also be encouraged to contribute towards the land purchase, and eventually Kamunting may even be turned into a public housing project.

"Taman Bahagia Kamunting (Kamunting Happy Garden)!" he suggested as a name, to hoots of laughter from the audience.

For the plan to take shape, Pakatan state government representatives currently sitting on the National Land Council will have to begin urging the federal government to allow Kamunting’s takeover.

"We will wipe the stain of the ISA off the face of Malaysia!," Guan Eng promised - Malaysiakini.