Chow Kon Yeow: 曹观友

“Do not force the Government to take action”. This must be the strongest warning from Pak Lah over the debate on religious freedom.

It would be a sad day if the Government were to take action including using the ISA against people who are concerned about religious freedom in the country.

Early this month I was asked to share my concern on current development in the country.

I said my greatest worry was whether ordinary people would be made scapegoats given the political atmosphere and sensitivities in the debate over religious matters. I said I am afraid that the Government would use the ISA against those linked with the Article 11 group.

Constitutional and state institutional power are at their disposal and we can never be too naïve that they would not used their powers to stay in power.

A delegation from Gerakan Mansuhkan ISA (GMI) came to Parliament this afternoon to update Opposition MPs on the latest development at our own Guantanamo? at Kamunting.

According to GMI, 23 ISA detainees have had their third detention order issued and they are now serving their FIFTH year in detention without trial.

Our attention was drawn to a feature at the Amnesty International’s website (http://web.amnesty.org/pages/stoptorture-220306-features-eng) entitled “Another Guantanamo in Malaysia?”

Interestingly, our Prime Minister is demanding that the US shut down Guantanamo. Oh why, when his government is still operating Kamunting for indefinite detention without trial and torturing some detainees with solitarity confinement.

I visited Kamunting last year with the Parliamentary Human Rights Caucus and saw for myself conditions there.

I must say and say it again: Charge them or Release them, but do not detain them indefinately!

Pak Lah can see Guantanamo thousand miles away, what about Kamunting right under his nose?