From The Age
MALAYSIAN opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim moved closer to a parliamentary showdown yesterday as the embattled Government suffered another blow when its law minister resigned.
Zaid Ibrahim, a minister assisting Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi on legal affairs, resigned over last week’s arrest of two journalists and an opposition member of parliament under the Internal Security Act.
Mr Zaid said the Government was wrong to use the act, which allows indefinite detention without trial.
This came as Mr Anwar was convening a mass meeting in a Kuala Lumpur sports stadium last night to protest against the arrests. Mr Anwar has predicted that enough MPs of the ruling Barisan Nasional, or National Front, will cross to his People’s Alliance coalition for him to form government.
In recent days Mr Anwar has suggested the September 16 deadline for this is not fixed, but sources close to his headquarters said he already had firm promises from about 37 MPs now in Barisan.
The parliament is in recess for the Islamic fasting month, so any immediate shift in power would depend on Mr Anwar persuading the King, Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin, that he has a majority.
Mr Zaid’s resignation, which was not immediately accepted by Mr Abdullah, came after the arrests of internet political blogger Raja Petra Kamaruddin, an opposition Democratic Action Party MP Teresa Kok, and for one night, Sin Chew Daily reporter Tan Hoon Cheng.
At the same time, the Government issued “show-cause notices” to three newspapers under a press law requiring annual renewal of publishing licences and lets authorities suspend or withdraw licences for public order threats.
Originally enacted in 1960 to fight a long-running communist insurgency, the Internal Security Act allows police to hold and interrogate a suspect for 60 days, and for the Home Minister to authorise detention without trial for renewable periods of two years. But the latest arrests have rebounded on the Government, with Mr Zaid among half a dozen ministers and Barisan’s smaller parties voicing criticism.
“Rightly or wrongly, the perception about the latest arrests is that it’s related to the political situation of the country,” said Malaysian Bar Council president Ambiga Sreenevasan. “Certainly the intention is intimidation and to put fear into people so that they are more careful in the comments that they make.
“It is really a direct threat to the freedom of speech, and very telling that a blogger and a journalist have been held.”
when can we see the new formation of new government. pls do fast and very fast….. we cant wait anymore.
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salam ramadhan buat DSAI dan semua reformers..
I really really SALUTE Dato ZAID..
he resign because he defended his statement which -
he believe the detention without trial is wrongfully practised
this man resign with honour and dignity
proving he is not just another stereotype Ayesmen Minister in BN ruling coalition
a man with strong self-pride and principe
I must say I adored his act, altough he is BN Minister..but….
good action must and have to be complimented…
BRAVO DATO ZAID!!!
and it will be sweeter if u choose PAKATAN RAKYAT as your new platform of fighting your ideas
where freedom of speech is practised better than in BN
if not, still..my salute for you..DATO ZAID!!
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Pesanan RPK buat rakyat Malaysia.
A message from RPK to the rakyat.
arifabdull
Terima kasih.
Thanks.
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Good luck and Allah be with you and all good peoples!.
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your time is up. you must get out. reform!!!
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I have my utmost respect to you Zaid Ibrahim for your stand on “Rule of Law” and your sign of intolerance to “Rule of The Jungle” advocated by UMNO driven government…..
ISA as a tool for racial and political intimidation will no longer be accepted by the rakyat..
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Datuk Zaid Ibrahim is certainly a Great Gentleman Minister who is Disciplined and Dedicated to the RAKYAT. His resignation says loud and clear that he is NOT that stuff who is greedy of power or would want to be in the manupulation game. We RAKYAT salute you Datuk.
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I fully support Zaid Ibrahim’s stand on this matter. He’s a true hero who dare to stand up against any injustice. After all, not all lawyers act like sharks :)
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Hindraf 5 and all others are under ISA because of what they said, not because they are national security threats
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this is irrelevant, is totally an internal affairs of the ruling party.
Pls do not divert attention to avoid the ‘much awaited pledged from dsai of taking over the government on sept 16 2008′, which is TODAY.
There was no compulsion from others for him to make the pledge. He boostfully did the pledged at his own accord. We were and are confident that he can do it.
He has merely 3 hours more to do that. I just can’t wait.
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DEAR DSAI,
WE NEED SINCERE AND PRINCIPLED PEOPLE LIKE MR ZAID IBRAHIM IN PAKATAN RAKYAT’S CABINET.PLEASE USE YOUR INFLUENCE AND PERSUADE HIM TO JOIN PKR TO CONTINUE HIS JUDICIAL REFORM WITHOUT ANY HINDRANCE. HE IS A SHINING EXAMPLE OF A TRUE MALAYSIAN WHO HAS HIS COUNTRY AND PEOPLE AT HEART. WE NEED HIM BECAUSE HE IS AN ASSET FOR THE NATION’S JUDICIAL INTEGRITY.
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At NTV7 at 8 PM ABB with the various question to him.Did anbody inform him of the arrest of all three.His replied NO.Look like ABB is really under seize that his mind is also under seize.To the extent that He is not aware what this GUY The Home Minister and police doing things has a Godfather to ABB.Either the Home Minister and the Police are above the law.Sad to see two female Malaysian are put in this terriable state.Their mere reporting of the True and lowering the AZAN come under National security warrant for such a arrear.More so Home syed Hamid first denial of giving such Order shortly about TURN.ABB have also broadcast Reporters to write the TRUE.TUN Mathathir had also ask the umno and common people to speak out without Fear factor.Why is He so quite neither had hE PEN ANYTHING In his Chedet.com of this issue.We the Rakyat had some fate then in 2004 with almost 90% VOTE, His KPI is so bad it had now down to 40%.Leaders must notice If He had overstay his stay from the events sign to be notice.Yes PR coalition did better then BN in West Malaysia.maybe had not the resourse to make in root to Sahah/sarawak.It,s a known Media is all for BN Do this folks really knows the actual happening in th CORUPT GOVT>I guess not.MPS are vote by the RAKYAT not merely on Parties.Some MPS are elected base on their personnel touch .Enogh is Enough. We want GHANGE Now.Let PR take shape or call for SNAP election.I Bet my last Ringgit BN will be totally out for ever
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The ‘toyol’ minister,Utusan reporter,editor and Ahmad Ismail should also be detain under ISA.The double standards shown by UMNO and the Police clearly shows that UMNO are above the law.They are able to prosecute,judge and punish anybody whom they feel are a threat to the party.Following RPK plea for Pakatan to take over the government should be taken seriously.RPK have sacrificed his freedom and his rights as Malaysian to show justice and Anwar should rescue him immediately.
Pakatan should bring Zaid into the party.He have shown Malaysia that he is a man with dignity.
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another will follow…
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saudara anwar, saya ucapkan tahniah di atas sebaran dan kesugguhan saudara berjuang demi rakyat malaysia. Sesungguhnya saya amat berharap dapat berjuang bersama saudara untuk bangsa Malaysia tetapi apakan daya saya tidak mampu melakukannya demi keluarga saya. Sayatelah 16 tahun merantau di spore tetapi telah mengikuti perkembangan saudara dari tahun 1984 lagi sewaktu saudara masih menteri Pelajaran Malaysia.
Sejak dari ceramah yang saudara berikan kepada saya di Maktab Kerjesama Malaysia kalau tak silap pada tahun 1984 saya dapati saudara lah yang sebenarnya pejuang bangsa Melayu tanpa melupakan bangsa lain yang mendukung negara kita Malaysia. Saya berjuang dengan cara saya sendiri demi saudara Anwar dengan berkempen kepada rakan taulan dan saudara mara di perak untuk menyokong inti pati perjuangan saudara.
Berhati hati saudara kawan jadi lawan dan insan hipokrit di sekeliling saudara. Doa saya agar saudara berjaya dan di jauhi dari dendam orang yang hasad dengki. Selamat berjuang.
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DSAI,
Kamuorang tak dapat apa yang kaurang kejar. yang dikejar tak dapat, yang dikendong berciciran—-pasti
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Some asking why govern has not changed ! Yesterday was 916, so what, diagnosis for BN long before was brain death, merely surviving by life support, just pull-off the tube, death is inevitale. Coffin is ready, undertaker booked, only need to confirm the date for funeral……..
DSAI and Rakyat who has faith on PKR will have the last laugh, period !. Hailed to DSAI, the Rakyat’s ‘Boss’, Congrats to PKR and Condolence to the demise of Be eNd.
Makkal Sakthi ! People’s Power ! Kuasa Rakyat !
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get real! zaid let coz he is joining pakatan rakyat.
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CONGRATULATIONS DATUK ZAID,U ARE ONLY ONE MALAY WHICH MAKE A VERY GENTELMEN MOVE.SEMUA ORANG TAHU MAHUKAN PERUBAHAN,,TIDAK BOLEH DALAM BARISAN NASIONAL.MAKANAN DAH BASI TAK BOLEH LAGI DI SIMPAN.KENA BUANG AJE…ITULAH BARISAN NASIONAL.AYUH DATUK ZAID BERJUANGLAH BERSAMA-2 RAKYAT MERUBAH PERUBAHAN UNTUK GENARISI YANG AKAN DATANG…ANAK CUCU CICIT KITA.
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DSAI is wise and forgiving. He is giving grace to ABB to move out gracefully but it seems that he and his henchmen has come to the conculsion that to rule Malaysia is their given right and the Rakyat are their minions to do as they please, whether they plunder, murder, loot, steal their land, jail and thousands more. We the Rakyat have enough. Please let DSAI do his job and let us never a doubt in what he does and I strongly believes in what he in his wisdom says. I for one was never a fan of Anwar but with diligence become his strong supporter in his philosophy, morality and sense of direction that he will led us out of this jungle created by UMNO with the likes of Toyo, Zakaria, one eye jack, the man with 2 muhamads in his name, and the list goes a long way which includes the mamaks. It seem like the mamaks are now running the country who are only in Malaysia for 2 generations. Who are they fighting for, themselves, while disgusing their talks with religion and race.
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Salam…
Dato’ Seri mesti pantas bertindak. Kami rakyat Malaysia tak sabar2 nk tegok PKR perintah negara. Rase kecewa jgk bila 16 Sept x de ape2 pun berlaku. Ape2 pun syabas kepada Dato’ Seri kerana tlh berjaya mengubah senario politik negara. Ini yang kami mahukan.
Semoga perjuangan Dato’ diberkati Allah s.w.t dan mencapai kejayaan.
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We Love you D’SAI!!!!!
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The clown government must be sent to the circus right away. I supported UMNO very strongly before but now it is a bull-shit party with full of bull-shit ministers. My country is at stake now with this clown party running and governing the policies.
We want PKR to take over the government as swiftly as possible before our country is more deeper in turmoil. And the first thing PKR has to do is to scrap ISA. No more ISA where humans are treated like animals. If PKR does not scrap ISA the moment it becomes government, then I fear I have no more party to support. But I have every confidence with PKR with DSAI as its leader. InsyaAllah, Malaysia will progress under DSAI. And only then can I proudly proclaim myself as a Malaysian to the non-Malaysians. For now too ashame to declare as Malaysian to the non-Malaysians because of this corrupted and stupid government.
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