GIVE DR M A TASTE OF HIS OWN MEDICINE SAYS PARAM

GIVE DR M A TASTE OF HIS OWN MEDICINE SAYS PARAM

Friday, May 23, 2008 at 7:08 AM Posted by jatt

Source : 'Arrest Dr M under ISA '

Give former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad a taste of his own medicine by arresting him under the draconian Internal Security Act (ISA), which allows detention without trial.

This was the terse message from former top United Nations official Param Cumaraswamy in response to a speech Mahathir had made last week in Johor Baru.

Param, the former UN rapporteur for the independence of judges and lawyers, alleged that Mahathir’s remarks in his May 17 speech “not only bordered on sedition but, applying his own standards, qualifies him for detention under the ISA”.

In his address to about 1,000 people in Johor, Mahathir had reportedly cited the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) group’s list of demands contained in a memorandum and asked if anyone knew the implications of those demands.

“What does it say? Malaysia for Malaysians! This is the reality of the present situation. If we do not speak up, if we choose to keep quiet, we will lose our rights and the other races will take over” the Malaysian Insider news portal quoted him as saying.

“When that happens, it will be like Singapore. Do you think we will still have control?” said Mahathir in his speech.

While stressing that he himself was against the use of the ISA, Param said that “applying the principle of equality before the law” would dictate that the home minister consider invoking the ISA and detain Mahathir for his remarks “before he does further damage”.

According to Param, he had written to Mahathir in December 1987 to inquire as to the reasons for the detention of his political opponents under the tough security law during ‘Ops Lalang’ crackdown.

He needs ‘rehabilitation’ in Kamunting

In that operation, Mahathir had more than 100 political rivals and social activists detained and three newspapers shut down in the wake of a bitter split within his Umno party and tensions stirred up over the issue of Chinese education.

“In December 1987, I wrote to Dr Mahathir when he was prime minister inquiring why he resorted to detention of his political opponents under the ISA. His response in a letter dated December 2, 1987 was:

‘If I have to resort to the ISA it is because I am forced to by the irresponsibility of those who do not appreciate my liberal attitude and seem bent on destabilising this country. My responsibility is towards the vast majority who feel threatened by the race-baiting indulged in by a frustrated minority unable to impose their thinking on this country.’”

Recounting this, Param said if those persons were detained under the ISA during ‘Ops Lalang’ because they indulged in ‘race-baiting’ which Mahathir felt threatened the majority of Malaysians, then “the same criteria could now be applied to Mahathir for his speech in Johor”.

“No longer able to impose his minority will on the government out of frustration, he appears to have resorted to racial tactics which could destabilise the country,” said Param.

“A dose of his own medicine which he administered to the 106 (individuals) in 1987 should be in order to rehabilitate him in Kamunting (camp),” he added.

Both Param and Mahathir had engaged in a war of words over the judicial crisis which took place when the former premier was in power.