Najib in his maiden speech as PM tonight:
In this spirit, I would like to announce that the government has decided with immediate effect, to remove the temporary ban on TWO news publications, release 13 detainees from ISA detention, and conduct a comprehensive review of the Internal Security Act. Additional details will be announced by the Ministry of Home Affairs shortly.
Well, not quite a surprise.
As I had mentioned yesterday, Pakatan sources in Bukit Selambau were already expecting the release of ISA detainees, specifically a few Hindraf detainees except for the leader, Uthayakumar, who they felt would have to serve a longer term.
But it’s is not known if there are any Hindraf detainees among the 13 detainees that Najib said would be released.
Anyway, it’s a positive start for Najib.
Let us not forget that this is a small victory for the Malaysian public, many of whom over the last ten years have been pressuring for meaningful democratic reforms, campaigning for the release of all ISA detainees and calling for an outright repeal of the ISA.
But be cautious: this is exactly the way Mahathir started when he came into power in 1981. He released a whole bunch of ISA detainees. And then came Operasi Lalang in 1987.
The first thing that comes to mind now is: is all this a political ploy aimed at the three by-elections? And then tighten the screws later? Does that mean the remaining ISA detainees have to wait for a new PM before they can have a better hope of being released?
Note: Telekom has confirmed on a recorded message over its helpline that users will experience slow browsing for websites hosted in the US and Hong Kong. “Restoration work is in progress” is their well-worn message. Let’s see how long this takes. This slowdown will affect the downloading speed of many blogs that are hosted overseas at a crucial period ahead of the three by-elections.
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Reflecting without emotion, the authorities might have reason to use the ISA. Without giving reason it seemed that the authorities had embarked on an overkill. Surely there was no threat from Haraka and the Keadilan publication. Lets not forget that if we looked too hard for the flea we may miss the elephant when the flea was on the elephant.
Just a show la…
K, you know why Abdullah readilly hand power to NTB just like an obedient schoolboy??? Reason is beacuse his SIL is caught with his pants down of money politic. IT is like if you dont handover, your SIL will be in deep s*** with the MACC and it will directly affect your duaghter. Sounds logic!!!
So K, next time you want to comment, comment on something that most Malaysians understand….with logic. Not the type of comment only UMNO guys can understand.
K:
Could you please elaborate why you expect Uthayakumar to get the special treatment of staying locked-up longer than the other two still detained Hindraf members?
“Imagine Power To The People” John Lennon.
NO NO NO , itu tak cukup membeli undi2 in the 3 BUY-elections !!
BN going to play unfair in these 3 by-election. This announce by Najib is just to justify their surprise wins. The only way PR can win in these by-elections is to take a practical step to stop the phamtom voters, if any. I suggest to PR leadership to assign a cameramens at every polling stations entrance. Take photos of every voters.I hope the PR leadership take my advice seriously.
The sweet coating 13 ISA released A new game Only it is an old one The black dragon winks “I tell you There will be changes” We know the tricks The black dragon ways The back doors better locked The weakest signal the danger zone When the fire spread into it There isn’t a way to know The dazzling then the daze “I tell you The changes I will make” Now some feeling bewitch Listening to the sugar coated statements They don’t learn for decades They better wake up to know The world is changing The black dragon Raises up… Read more »
for those of us who are weak it is a surprise, for those who are strong, it is a joke.
in any case, the title of your post does not match the news content. for a moment there i thought that jibby has captured the services of another 20 percent of MP to claim back the 2/3 majority in parliament.
wishing u blessed palm sunday and holy week.
Bro Anil,Selamat Sore, What is former PM Mahathir trying to prove? I think all of us know!!!!!As Najib has been sowrn in as PM, Mahatir now moves his pwan to King as he has najib under his grip! Through Najib, he could inject his plans and fancies and again revive Mahathirtahirism!!! Be careful as I preict that NTAR would definitely follow M’s words if he wants to stay in power just like his mentor for 22-years. M has all planned these things and once again Hiyo Silver away!!!!! We are in for bad time actually and the release f 13… Read more »
He’s just dangling the carrot in front of the donkey…!
And we are the “donkeys”…!!!
Anil..! Put the list of names out than we’ll know. Those released will be very “small fries”……..!!!
“Judge Me By My Actions…!”
Let’s not forget these words by new PM..!
Malaysians have learned to be cynical, 1. Blur-blur Syed Hamid may not have been in control of his ministry for a long time. Some behind the scene forces are more likely at work all along. 2. Why ban the papers in the first place so recently? Make people feel it was not a contrived act to create a “good cop” image now, 3. The non-release of 3 key HINDRAF leaders, especially one with diabetes, is going to focus people wrath more! 4. These detainees may have been released earlier, perhaps only delayed to make the new PM look good by… Read more »
Lets See!!!!
Undoing what should not have been done in the first place is not doing anything good at all.
Dear Anil, but they still raid the Suara Keadilan office and snatch the film. while confisticate the PAS “Hujah”. This is contradictory to his announcement. What an irony? So is this new PM telling a big lie or is this the act by his (people) to sabotage him? Is this because that minister is going to be dropped from the cabinet line-up and he is showing his power due to frustration? Or is he overzealous and trying to prove his loyalty by becoming more aggressive? Which is which? But one thing for sure, this is another piece of strong evidence… Read more »
This is Najib last ditch effort to ensure BN wins the by-election but I believe the rakyat are smarter than this to fall into this trap. We shall wait for Anwar’s surprise before we comment more. 🙂
LOL
Usually PM or President pardon or release people before they leave the office. What a political ploy in trying to gain support. Doesn’t this show if you have to give out candies when you come in that means you do not have the support of the people and need to buy people’s vote. Only in Malaysia we are forced to take a leader that have so many ? and yet we don’t have a choice.
Welcome to Malaysia Boleh… Or maybe we need to change it to SEMUA BOLEH land…
All this is Sandiwara of the highest order. It is just like an old record playing over and over and over…. If they cannot even change UMNO….how do you expect najib to change for the better.
But one thing is for certain….Peoples Power will win the war.
this maked matters worst only.all hindraf 5 shouls have been released.divide and rule is not the answer.all should have been released. to make matters plain and simple
A dessert on the house before the check is presented.
We fell for that one lock, stock and barrel many moons ago. Don’t forget the overcharging: closing down of the Star for using the word DETAINED in a black box. Reason: creating public fear.
If sodomy II is anything to go by, you can bet your bottom dollar history has a tendency to repeat itself…with a straight face.
Lets see how far Najib will go, or if this is just window dressing.
Anyway, I’m hoping to get my Wakil Rakyat back…
I remember a now Tun said ‘work with me, not for me’. I also remember all his promises. He turned out to be a … sleepyhead. He even allowed a … to be CEO of a certain Bolehland.
Now the … made promises for a better Bolehland. Should I believe the …
The Lame duck cud have done the job of releasing the detainee and got the credit before he step down. Always blur…blur…..
Alas , he cud have been stopped by the oldman who planned for his puppetman to do the good job in time for the 3 by-elections.
The next move is to think of some interesting names for the coming operasi. How about operasi tikus , … kuching , gajah sakti ,
kelapa sawit , kangkong …bla…bla…
It’s a con job la! They are fishing for votes! Remember pakatan says it’s a refenrendum against Najib! Najib will use all the Cs – corner, confuse, commit, and if that doesn’t do, condemn….
Carrot Before Stick, Umno Style
Well Anil, it wasn’t Pakatan saying that Hindraf 5 will be released but myself who predicted release before by-election for Hindraf 4. Anyway 2 of 4 got released any way.
I expect the other 2 to be released sooner or later. But Uthaya will have to stay longer.