This is my first article since the Gerakan NDC (yesterday post was a thank you post), and I ask the government to IMMEDIATELY release RPK and the Hindraf 5, and take steps to repeal the ISA in the immediate future..
From the stories told by ISA detainees- there are still a few in Gerakan, some former Labour party members, some from Dong Jiao Zhong days etc- the treatment under detention is no better than the Stalinist jails for political opponents.
They were detained in rooms barely enough to move; lights are constantly switched on; dripping sounds of water will be heard constantly. Some are made to sit on big cubes of ice while being interrogated in a cold room. These are the stories told. But the stories from different sources corroborated . So it is really a detention with the aim of mental torture, which can have worst effects on a person than physical torture.
There are enough laws to deal with all sort of crimes . Anyone suspected of committing a crime must be given a chance to defend himself in an open court, so that justice is not only being carried out, but must be seen to be carried out.
I am even against the suggestion that ISA be reviewed so that they can be used to target the terrorists only. There is no need to review, just repeal it in toto. If needed be, we can enact a common law to make terrorism a crime but any terrorist arrested must be given chance to go through a proper trial like any other criminals– no more detention WITHOUT trial. Even suspected terrorists are human, and cannot be subjected to inhuman treatment and subjected to mental torture.
We are a civil society. This is not a feudal age where the will of one person could be imposed on all others. This is an era where the world is flat and everyone is equal. We must strive to practice what is in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which can be viewed in one of the pages in this blog.
RELEASE RPK AND HINDRAF FIVE IMMEDIATELY!
Dr. Hsu's forum 
Oct 13, 2008 @ 11:27:44
The ISA is a cruel, unjust and much abused piece of legislation that has no place in an enlightened democratic society. Malaysia is of course not yet enlightened and given her current misplaced value system, unlikely to become one anytime soon. Those in power who misuse the ISA will reap what they sow, evil deeds beget bad karma. Fate has a funny way of getting back at you and yours. The ISA must be repealed, period, no ifs or buts.
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Oct 13, 2008 @ 11:43:01
Agreed, no review but total repeal of ISA.
Release RPK, Hindraf 5 and the rest of the ISA detainees.
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Oct 13, 2008 @ 12:46:15
Dr Hsu,
Now you are a central committee member in Gerakan, are you going to ape Koh Tsu Koon? NATO as usual? It seems that the rest in Gerakan is keeping very quiet about the ISA now.
Gerakan is as equally responsible with all the BN components party for keeping quiet in keeping the ISA for so long after the communist threat.
Personally, my perception is that Gerakan has too much dirty garbage in the backyard to divorce itself from BN.
Why are you still in an irrelevant party when there are so many other genuine NGOs out there for you to join and contribute your services? And that is if you profess to serve.
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Oct 13, 2008 @ 13:17:57
In the very first place, just whack this no brain, arrogant baldie toad out of the HM.
This bum is NOT suitable to even be a HM delivery boy. He should be a toilet watchman.
He has already made Malaysia a laughing stock to the whole world. A real thick face bum.
Dr. please do something and inject some sense into these leaders in Gerakan.
They have been blind and deaf to the rakyat concerns. The longer they behave this way, the days for Gerakan to survive are nearer.
Its not an easy task for you alone, but I have faith in you. All the best.
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Oct 13, 2008 @ 13:29:44
You should insist on release of all ISA detainees and be sent to court for trial instead but no you only want to secure release of RPK and Hindraf 5 , wat about others, yes no doubt we start fighting small then for others but i believe we should not be choosy in who we are fighting for. Your bias article will upset all the other detainees. Yes you mention like trial in court and repealing it but what about the fight for the release of the other detainees from ISA ?
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Oct 13, 2008 @ 13:41:28
Dalbinder dont get carried away with emotions as usual .
Firstly repealing ISA means freeing everyone in Kamunting .
Detention of RPK and H5 are being hilighted specifically across blogs because they’re mere political victims compared to the rest .
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Oct 13, 2008 @ 14:08:33
we must keeping pressing this abolition seemed gerakan voice is not good enough
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Oct 13, 2008 @ 14:22:03
a gulag in our midst and this government is talking about developed nation of rule of law.
not a chance that the iSA will be sent to the dustbin with Najib and Mahatir as the boss. Rather, it will be applied again and again when they are challenged.
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Oct 13, 2008 @ 14:48:28
Dalbinder, yes , all should be released. When i mentioned only these 6, i use them to symbolise all detainees, and that is why i said ISA must be repeal immediately,
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Oct 13, 2008 @ 14:55:30
I ask the government to IMMEDIATELY release RPK and the Hindraf 5, and take steps to repeal the ISA in the immediate future..
One lone voice won’t make the government hear. You may want to support the NGOs or the Anti-ISA groups to make it stronger since you did mention that Gerakan is very open to different of opinion from members.
I am glad with this statement of yours:
I am even against the suggestion that ISA be reviewed so that they can be used to target the terrorists only. There is no need to review, just repeal it in toto.
Talk is cheap, from the PM down to all the BN mens in the corridor of power, but I am very sure that you are a man of honor that makes the difference from them.
Its not easy for you to just walk in and make changes but you may have your plan in place when you opt for the CC position and I am wishful that some drastic changes can happen when Gerakan is still a component of BN.
From an individual opinion, I think Gerakan should leave BN and stay independent and let umno work out some concrete solutions before deciding to join back. But as you mentioned in your earlier posting that the chances of umno changing is very slim the decision to leave must be in Gerakan’s top agenda.
Anyway whatever it may be, I wish you all the best to carry out the transformation within Gerakan that can really help and benefit all Malaysians and not to make umno stronger to suppress us any further.
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Oct 13, 2008 @ 15:29:05
Richard Loh, one man indeed cannot make much difference, so all of us need to voice out in whatever forum we attend, and tell our friends, and spread the words.
By doing so, we can influence more and more people and create a people’s movements to repeal whatever that is not good for the people.
Thank you for your comments and kind wishes.
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Oct 13, 2008 @ 16:02:03
We cannot have any law that detain anyone without trial. That is why i am against reviewing the act.
this act must be repealed totally.
If you just review the law and use it for terrorists, what is there to stop the Minister for putting his political enemies under this category and jail them? It will be back to square one.
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Oct 13, 2008 @ 18:10:42
We have a government and public authorities whose credibility are highly questionable. We have a prime minister who says something and does the opposite the following day.
We have a deputy prime minister whose close associates are on suspicion in an inhuman murder.
We have a judiciary that is absolutely tarnished and appears to be dictated by a “correct, correct, correct” lawyer. We have a police force that is supposed to fight crime but are busy blocking roads to parliament.
We have an attorney-general chambers that is supposed to effectively prosecute the murderers, kidnappers and the corrupt but are only efficient on petty cases of statutory declarations and sodomy.
We have immigration heads who are supposed to protect the country borders but are busy collecting monies from immigrants or their agents.
We have a foreign ministry and authorities that are supposed to safeguard the country sovereignty but loose territories through inadequate arguments in international courts.
We have a parliament that is supposed to debate constructively on the budget or law but is busy practising “classrooms-type” quarrels.
We have various departments (like the Biro Tata Negara, Rela, JKK, etc) that are supposed to enhance unity but are busy spreading distrust among the races.
We have the education authorities (higher and school level) who are supposed to educate our children with proper skills and values but are busy producing robots.
We have ministers who champion the national schools but send their children to be educated in international schools and overseas.
We have transport authorities who are supposed to provide us with economical and excellent public transport but are instead busy collecting tolls.
We have an international trade ministry that is supposed to bring in foreign investment but is busy “looking for buyers” for our national car project. We have the treasury that is supposed to protect the country coffers but is busy bailing out crony companies.
We have local councilors who are supposed to manage the systematic development in our towns but are busy acquiring lands for dubious purposes.
We have petroleum and gas that are supposed to assist us in our daily lives but have become catalysts to a higher cost of living (through price increases of essential goods).
And we have an ex-prime minister who is supposed to be the country statesman but is busy defending his past blunders.
Sadly the list goes on for our beloved country reaching 51 years.
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Oct 13, 2008 @ 18:45:10
Doc Hsu, one man can make a difference… keep plodding at it, and it will multiply.
That is the democratizing process… and Internet
obviously is a very effective tool to help this process.
Detention without trial, even for terrorist is cruel and against human dignity.
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Oct 14, 2008 @ 01:09:54
Congrate to Dr Hsu for wining the post as the CC member of the Party!
As I and many other political analysts can foresee, the road ahead of you and the Party is an uphill, meandering slippery one! Since KTK has his reason to maintain that Gerakan should stay in BN until further twist of event it may have, decision of quitting BN will be a secondary issue. Based on this decision, he has to prove himself to the critics that he is capable to lead the cause of changing BN from inside the coalition party, as people are watching, he can’t afford to fail and dishonor this time which will be the last for him and the Party to regain the trusts from the voters, particularly from the Chinese community at large!
Whereas I am still holding my skepticism on his success, when he had been seen in his usual political postures and histrionics in supporting the AAB and dubbed him Father of Democratic Reforms, knowing that AAB was totally lacked of any achievement and he was never an inch near to such glorious moniker!
If KTK can convince or influence AAB in his affirmative action to repeal the brutal ISA and release RPK and those other innocents, prove that AAB wisely adopts his appeal, KTK then only befits the respect as the honourable out crier. Otherwise, he’s once again proven himself the same old hypocrite, the rotten apple polisher!
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Oct 14, 2008 @ 03:41:41
Dr Hsu,
Referring to what petestop wrote, I would like to add this blog posting of mine here (only a bit related to your topic if you don’t mind).
http://romerz.blogspot.com/2008/10/count-of-monte-cristo-and-rosa-parks.html
Please let me remind you of your own posting some time back.
Confucius said “the journey of a thousand miles starts with the first step”
We all have our small little steps to take, insignificant as it may be at times. But we these steps will pave a way for a better highway to change.
I have already stumbled twice (the 1st you picked me up and the 2nd, a movie and an essay – refer to my blog posting) and I think you will too (though I hope not) but always remember that should we fail to bring about change now, it will make it easier for those who come after us to build on the foundation that we may have layed.
Good luck doc!
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Oct 14, 2008 @ 11:10:25
Congratulations Doc.
Now that you have tested the waters, I suggest you go for the top post next time. No point mucking around and voicing from the background where herd mentality tends to dominate.
For any change to take good effect, it must come from within. With so many disillusioned Gerakan members today, your selection may even be viewed as token. But real action needs to be taken by Gerakan and KTK’s praise of AAB as the Father of Reforms shows that Gerakan’s umbilical cord is still very attached to UMNO.
You are much more capable than KTK and Gerakan will need to reinvent itself to tackle current problems. With your screaming headline above, go for the top post if ISA is not abolished in, say 6 months. Instead of more ‘bodeking’ , when the going gets tough, Gerakan must get going!
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Oct 14, 2008 @ 11:21:21
Dr. Hsu,
Your win has proven that many people, Gerakan members included, are reading your writings and ‘convinced’ with your ideals.
What I am concerned is that you may be ‘reprimanded’ for voicing out your thoughts which are more in-line with those of Pakatan Rakyat. BN and Gerakan can find excuses that you ‘in breach’ of their so-called ‘tata-tertib’ and harass you in time to come.
I hope to see Gerakan members will come out to back you when you are facing with such kind of harass.
Take care Dr. Hsu. Truth shall prevail ultimately.
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Oct 14, 2008 @ 11:55:13
Kongkor said and I quote . . . ‘
“Now you are a central committee member in Gerakan, are you going to ape Koh Tsu Koon? NATO as usual? It seems that the rest in Gerakan is keeping very quiet about the ISA now.
Gerakan is as equally responsible with all the BN components party for keeping quiet in keeping the ISA for so long after the communist threat.
Personally, my perception is that Gerakan has too much dirty garbage in the backyard to divorce itself from BN.
Why are you still in an irrelevant party when there are so many other genuine NGOs out there for you to join and contribute your services? And that is if you profess to serve.”
What’s your response Dr. ?
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Oct 14, 2008 @ 15:07:46
Dr. Hsu,
I had make a posting about Gerakan and you on my blog.
Would appreciate if you can view it and grant your permission for it to stay as it is. Please provide your strict condemnation of any part which is wrongly written.
There Are Still Some Good People In Gerakan
Thanks
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Oct 14, 2008 @ 15:21:32
Dr. Hsu,
Justin has posted “Anwar, can we believe you”.
My comments on this are as follows:-
Whether we can believe Anwar, to me, is a non-question.
Just ask ourselves, will it be better to believe in Najib rather than Anwar? My answer is I rather believe in Anwar.
Never mind whether Anwar has the number to change Federal Government, so long as PR will be one in the near future.
Of course, many are impatient to wait for the day as if Najib take over PM in the next 5 months, Malaysia will be even worse then now. I am sure Anwar is aware about this.
But one thing for sure, it is very difficult to convince BN MPs to cross over as their livelihoods are at stake if they do that. Anwar needs to take care of this ‘livelihood’ of those crossing over. The question is, does Anwar or PR has the means to do that?
Anyway, Altantuya and RPK case will have much impact to Najib, and for that matter, Malaysia as a whole.
While I do not put my hope on BN MPs to cross over, I do place my hope on BN grassroots members to cross over in exodus to PR, let those parties have top leaders without members. Only then, these MPs will cross over.
___________________
So, my hope is on you, grassroots of Umno, MCA, Gerakan, and those in Sabah / Sarawak.
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Oct 14, 2008 @ 23:45:08
why is d world body keeping quite about this happening in malaysia…… ISA………….can’t UN or any so called police of the world come n do something????????????????
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Oct 15, 2008 @ 09:48:59
If you refer to the UN, I doubt it will do aything.
Worldwide NGOs, such as AMnesty International has been pushing for ISA to be repealed. But would our government listen to them since they are not voters in this country? They of course play a part to put tremendous external pressure on our government, bu to change this, we have to depend on our own effort too.
Get the message to everyone you meet. Let everyone, irrespective of race or status, speak about the importance of doing away with detention without trial. Tell them anyone can be a victim as long as such a dragonian law is in place. tell them that this law encourages abuse of power because it gives unlimited power to certain power that be.
People’s power is the most awesome. And that is how we can do away with this.
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Oct 15, 2008 @ 09:56:05
Kongkor,eugene, A true malaysian, Richard Loh and others,
I will voice out in the CC on issues that are dear to my heart and issues that are listed in my platform.
A lone voice may not be able to do much but it may slowly influence the thinking of the people.
As I see it, the chances of a change of government in the immediate future is remote now, and if we carry on like what we did the last 5 years, Malaysia will be like Philippines in no time.
So while I wil try my best to get Gerakan to be independent force, We have at the same time voice out against bad governance, and push for Judicial reform, meritocracy, more level playing fields for all races, eradication of NEP.
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Oct 15, 2008 @ 10:05:18
A True Malaysian, in any party there will be certain disciplne that we have to follow. We cannot reveal what is discussed in CC, as I understand it. But there is nothing that can prevent me from voicing out loudly on matters that is suppoted by our ideology, which is a non racial, fair and equal society.
All my writings are along the party ideology. So if any actions are taken against me because I voice out on my own party ideology, they have to answer to the grassroots. The grassroots can use their votes the net round. As for me, since I am not aiming for any position(in fact, it is precisely because there is no more positions in Gerakan that I went in this time) , I do not fear any action taken against me, if unfair action is taken, let the leaders answer to the grassroots.
Just like in a country. The top leaders took unfair action against RPK, the people cannot do anything but they can voice out, and they can use their vote to vote these people out the next round. It is the same logic here.
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