Malaysia's Oppresive Law used against Political Blogger

Malaysian Government led by the UMNO party invokes the infamous draconian law - the Internal Security Act - to detain a sensational political blogger - Raja Petra Kamaruddin.

The law allows for potentially indefinite detention without trial at the discretion of the Home Minister's order.

Raja Petra Kamaruddin, better known as RPK, posted many articles in his web-blog Malaysia Today to expose (or allege depending on one's view) sensational wrongdoing and corruption often involved the government ministers and senior officers.

The latest exposure or allegation involves the conspiracy to charge Anwar Ibrahim, the Opposition Leader of sodomy (an offence in Malaysia) and the sensational murder of a Mongolian beauty with C4 - an explosive chemical - both by a very senior minister and his family.

RPK's critic often accuse him for sensationist journalism without adequate care for accuracy. Despite the frequent attempts to disrupt, sabotage, and a recently lifted blocking of, his news portal by the government, RPK has a large online following.

His defiance against the authority both on line and off line has earned him wide support and respect among Malaysians and Malaysia observes.

It is most likely that RPK is arrested under the ISA for allegedly insulting Islam and the Prophet Mohammad. The Home Minister has reportedly issued such a comment last week.

RPK's arrest under ISA is therefore widely anticipated.

Most believes, however, that this is used as a pretext and the real reason is that he has irked the power-that-be to the extent that the UMNO-led government feels threatened of his constant criticism, if unchecked, will lead to the fall of the ruling party.

National security legislation is understandable. The issue is how it is being used. The problem with this legislation is how it is open to misuse and abuse by the ruling power against political dissidents and opponents.

The law is most oppressive in the sense that it deprieves the detainee of their most sacrosant personal liberty without the right to a fair hearing and the right to defend himself against the charge.

This legislation in its current form is a slap on human right and an insult to due process.

If the UMNO-led government insists on the use of this oppressive law, the Malaysian peoples' option is to bring down this government and abolist this oppressive law.