One gone in, how many more to go?

Yes the Government has used the tactics of a brute to jail Raja Petra Kamarudddin for what it claims were statements he made against Islam.



If indeed he did make such statements he should rightfully be jailed, but only after it has been proven in court that he indeed did make derogatory statements against the religion and not on mere allegations, as that is what it is as he has been deprived a hearing.



This being a case that involves religion and more so Islam the official religion of the country, the Government has an obligation to bring him to court and prosecute him to the fullest extent of the law, not just make an allegation, for which no one seems to know how or when he published what, or anything that was derogatory to the religion.



The Director of Internal Security (normally the Police Chief ) has the authority to detain a person under the ISA, is this person in the first place competent to make an interpretation in law against a person who has neither possessed a lethal weapon nor in any manner threatened the internal Security with the exception of perhaps having published something in writing that would have had hundreds of thousands of people agitating on the streets. In fact after the way he has been responding to questions the competency of the Home Minister himself to interpret the law seems questionable.



If indeed this were published, I am wondering why we did not get a response here in Malaysia and in other Islamic countries like the response Sulaiman Rushdie got and Roger Koppel the man who reprinted the cartoons insulting the religion?



RPK is followed even by Al Jazeera, and other international News media and if there was anything derogatory I am sure the press would have picked it up and published it for others to respond as that is what they have been doing all the while.



His arrest has been widely published by the International media, but nothing about the content of the derogatory statements or articles against Islam were mentioned except that the Government is alleging he did so, the International media on the other hand have made reference to most of the allegations he has made against senior Ministers and their wives.



It is sad, that Raja Petra Kamaruddin should be jailed in such fashion for such an allegation without being given the opportunity to be heard, during this, the most venerated month of Ramadan to the Muslims. I shall not go into what is right and wrong, it is not for me to tell a Muslim that, he should be able to examine his own conscience in accordance with the tenets of his own religion, after all it was Syed Hamid Albar who signed the document and another Muslim Zaid Ibrahim the de facto law Minister who resigned over the arrests as he wanted no part in it.



There are ample avenues in the legal system of Malaysia to bring Raja Petra Kmaruddin to account if indeed he did make such remarks in his blog, and in fact there is an outstanding case against him, but what is most unfortunate is the personalities whom he has attacked remain quiet, and refuse to take him to task, and in doing so lend credit to what Raja Petra has been claiming all the time.



It is in view of these types of negative responses by the Government that Raja Petra has gained our support, and is given credibility and that this Government has lost its credibility and the confidence of the people.


Raja Petra might be bottled up but the spirit he has unleashed will continue in the other blogs, and more to come.


Let us hope that come Hari Raya we as Malaysians may really enjoy Hari Raya meaningfully together.

Frankly Xroy