New Post has been published on The Rakyat Post
New Post has been published on http://www.therakyatpost.com/news/2014/11/30/malaysians-enjoyed-day-freedom/
'Malaysians only enjoyed a day of freedom'
The country has only experienced a single day in its history since 1948 when there was no draconian law enforced by the ruling government to subjugate its people, says Hulu Kelang assemblyman Saari Sungib.
Speaking to The Rakyat Post on the sidelines of the Selangor state assembly recently, the former Internal Security Act (ISA) detainee claimed that since the time of the British until the current Barisan Nasional (BN) government, the authorities had always used repressive laws as its “walking stick” to ensure their continued rule.
“The Emergency was lifted on July 31, 1960, and the very next day the Internal Security Act came into force. That one day was the only day Malaysians or Malayans then enjoyed true freedom.
“They (ruling government) used them (repressive laws) like their tongkat (walking stick) to run their administration, when one walking stick breaks or wears out, they simply replace it with another one,” he said.
The recently suspended PAS member said this in light of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s announcement during the 2014 Umno General Assembly that the Sedition Act 1948 would be retained, adding that it was not surprising given today’s heated political atmosphere.
“It does not matter if they scrap one law, there will always be other laws that will emerge to shape and sound just like its predecessor,” he said.
Saari, who was twice detained under the now-defunct ISA, said the country’s Constitution is strong enough to be enforced to curb religious-based terrorism and threats to Islam.
“Wasn’t the al-Ma’unah terrorist group initially charged for waging a war against the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, which under the Constitution is defined as treason?
“Correct me if I am wrong for I am not a lawyer by profession, but having been to court many times, I believe the Constitution and the Penal Code remain the best safeguard to protect the country, all religions — not only Islam, and terrorism,” Saari, who is an engineer, stressed.
The al-Ma’unah was a local militant group based in Malaysia, who daringly raided the Malaysian Army Reserve camp on July 2, 2000 and stole weapons from the armoury.
The group then captured two enforcement officials, one each from the Armed Forces and the police force, and tortured them before murdering them.
The resulting stand-off led to the capture of the group’s members, all of whom where charged under section 121 of the Penal Code for “waging a war against the Yang di-Pertuan Agong”, an offence punishable by death.
Saari said should any improvements be made, it should be to the existing Penal Code and not drafting new laws instead.
“It is strong enough, but with the changing of times, there should be improvements made to existing laws instead of introducing new ones,” he said, adding that new laws would result in cases where the Constitution and the Penal Code is often challenged and contradicted respectively.
He also expressed fears that the new improvements to the Sedition Act 1948 as well as other preventive laws such as the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 (SOSMA), would infringe on human rights.
“In the name of defending Islam and Malay rights, the Prime Minister says that he is going to improve the Sedition Act.
“Islam has always taught the importance of fundamental human rights as enshrined in the Holy Quran. How is it (the law) defending human rights or Islam when the total power to detain someone lies in the powers of the executive, for instance?” he asked.
On Thursday, Najib in his policy speech during the Umno general assembly, announced that the Sedition Act 1948 would be maintained following consultation with party leaders, NGOs and grassroots members after he had earlier promised to repeal the British-era law in 2012.
