Najib disappoints again: Glamour ISA announcements but little real change
Prime Minister Najib Razak's promise to repeal the Internal Security Act 1960 and several other oppressive laws were cautiously greeted by PKR leaders as a victory for the people, including the thousands of activists both local and foreign who fought through the decades for their removal.
However, they slammed Najib for trying to give a false impression to Malaysians that they could look forward to greater democracy, when effectively, there was little real change and a possibility that new laws made to replace the ISA could contain similarly oppressive clauses.
Najib announces repeal of ISA, three emergency declarations
Datuk Seri Najib Razak announced tonight the repeal of the Internal Security Act 1960 (ISA) and the three Emergency Declarations when both the Dewan Negara and Dewan Rakyat have their next sitting.
The prime minister said that new laws will be enacted to protect the peace, harmony and security of the country.
He also announced that the government will do away with annual printing and publishing permits with permits that can be cancelled if regulations are flouted.
Najib acknowledged in his address to the nation on the eve of Malaysia Day that the move to increase civil liberties was “risky, but we are doing this for our survival.”
“No individual will ever be detained simply due to political ideology,” he said in his speech that was broadcast live on all local television stations.
The move to scrap the law has been hailed by ex-ISA detainee and DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng as “an epochal move.”
K'jaan mansuhkan ISA dan Akta Buang Negeri
"Sehubungan dengan itu lagi, kita tidak akan teragak-agak untuk meminda atau memansuhkan undang-undang yang tidak lagi relevan," tambahnya.
Kajian semula komprehensif itu akan melibatkan Akta Kediaman Terhad 1933 dan Akta Mesin Cetak dan Penerbitan 1984 di mana prinsip pembaharuan tahunan akan dihapuskan dan digantikan dengan pengeluaran lesen sehingga dibatalkan.
Kerajaan juga akan mengkaji semula seksyen 27 Akta Polis 1967 dengan mengambil kira peruntukan Perkara 10 Perlembagaan Persekutuan tentang kebebasan berhimpun dengan prinsip menentang sekeras-kerasnya demonstrasi jalanan.
Baca selanjutnya: http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/175950
ISA abolished, host of changes promised
Najib said the parliamentary motion to lift the Emergency proclamations will be made under Clause 3, Article 150 of the Federal Constitution, and was in line with the people’s aspiration for Malaysia to be more open and its democracy, more dynamic.
“As many are aware, only the emergency proclamation made following the confrontation in 1964 had been implicitly revoked, while the other emergency proclamations are regarded to be in force until today,” he said.
He said, realising that Malaysia had changed over the years and in line with the people’s aspirations based on the universal philosophy on democracy, the government would table in the lower and upper houses of parliament for the three emergency proclamations to be revoked.
Clause 3, Article 150 of the Federal Constitution gives the power to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong to revoke the emergency proclamations and ordinance, or these to be ineffective if decided by parliament.
Read more: http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/2011/09/15/internal-security-act-to-be-abolished/
Najib's Speech Could Open Door to Malaysia Reforms
Still, depending on how far Mr. Najib is prepared to go, Thursday's speech could go some way toward repairing the poisonous atmosphere in the country, and also help Mr. Najib ensure that he can make his own mark on determining the country's future direction.
"This really could be a turning point for Malaysia," Singapore Management University's Ms. Welsh said.
Read more: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424053111903927204576571934144265052.html
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