'They haven't a clue what the Internal Security Act is, only tyrants are in favour of it.'

Pro-gov't protestors disrupt anti-ISA forum

Changeagent: In 1960, the ISA was passed by the government of the day to deter communist activity. Today, it is an irrelevant archaic draconian law which is kept to stifle lawful political opposition and democratic citizen activity.

Of course, one would not expect Komtar Merchants Association (KMA) vice-chief Abdul Ghani Mohammad Jiman Ghani and his paid goons to have the intellect to understand this. They only blindly accept what they are told by their political masters in Umno that the ISA is good for protecting the "country, race and religion".

Magnus: "Meanwhile, another protestor said he was ‘proud' of the ISA as it has allowed the rakyat to wander freely without fear in their own country."

Well, what can you say to such a stellar display of Malaysian IQ and logic other than maybe point towards the equally stellar logic of those turkeys voting for Christmas?

"At one point, a tiny scuffle broke out when one of the forum moderators, Rozaimin Elias, was slapped by a protestor when he tried to prevent them from advancing onto the stage."

Can Malaysiakini please publish the photo of the uncouth Malaysian who assaulted the forum moderator so we can all see those who the charmer is, who does not understand what responsible democratic freedom and rights are all about but who obviously thinks he has the right to act like some ‘feudal warlord'.

I trust the organisers and Rozaimin Elias have made police reports for the trespass and assault and that the police will take the necessary action against any cheap thug who was not participating in the ‘protest' in a responsible and peaceful manner.

Kaisim: These Penang jokers don't understand the meaning of human rights and democracy in a civil society. They want to continue plundering the country under government protection, and the ISA is used to arrest those who criticise their wrongdoings.

Penang under the BN has been cheated to the core for almost two decades by these goons, and now they want to teach people how to run the state?

Mengxiang: This Umno goon squad members are products of the National Civics Bureau (BTN) and our education system. They haven't a clue what the Internal Security Act is, only tyrants are in favour of it.

Anonymous: These trouble-makers have no business to disrupt organised events. They should have taken the opportunity to present what they said they believe in at the forum. Notice that lately, whenever there is a protest in Penang, somehow Umno is involved?

Soothsayer: How about detaining all the illegal protesters (no permit, kan ?) under ISA for two years? No trial. May make them understand what the ISA is.

Fairness for all: These hooligans probably were paid RM50 by BN to show up and create a scene. Now as to what KMA vice-chief Abdul Ghani Mohammad Jiman Ghani said about traitors who have squandered the rights of others, isn't that what BN has been doing for the last 52 years?

He also said the opposition has destroyed the nation? How can a party which is not in power be so powerful as to destroy a nation? Only the ruling party can do that, and as we all know, BN has been the ruling party for the last 52 years and they have been cheating the rakyat, stealing from the rakyat, and squandering taxpayers' money.

Ghani obviously is blur, and does not know what he is talking about? Or probably, he is just reading from a script written by Umno without using his brain to even understand what he was saying.

Rolls-Royce: Yes, we should keep the ISA so that someday we can use it on these pro-ISA protesters. What goes around comes around.

Very good: This is indeed very good. Umno is doing Pakatan Rakyat a favour by disrupting approved events. Now the public will get a clear picture that Umno is only a sore loser and will go all out to create havoc.

The voters will now have a easy way of deciding who not to vote for in the next elections. Umno should do more such havoc in Penang so that the public get more enlightened.

Kazakh: This is becoming the trademark of Umno/BN - making noise is all they know, while constructive engagement and discussion is not part of their vocabulary. It is most unfortunate that Umno has lowlifes like Penang Umno Youth chief Norman Dhalan and Komtar Merchants Association leader Abdul Ghani Mohd Jiman to help them.

If our country had an independent and fair police and judiciary, these people would be loitering and hanging out in the country's jail houses.

Muslim-1st Msian-2nd Malay-3rd: Menurut Islam setiap pertuduhan dan pendakwaan perlu melalui proses keadilan berserta saksi dan bukti. ISA haram. Bagi ummat Islam, tegaklah perkara yang tidak dianjurkan Islam. Adakah ummat Islam suka apa yang diamalkan oleh Amerika dan sekutunya?

CarL: When DAP seeks justice for all and feels that street protests are a form of freedom of expression and organise anti-ISA programmes, then why do they seek revenge when such a protest is carried out by people who want to express their freedom of speech?

It confirms the fact that when the BN government does the same, it is acting accordingly. Boycotting mamak stalls as some have advocated is a way of racist persecution against a certain minority group, just because they go against what the majority thinks is right. Is that not the so-called BN way?

Lucia: I was there and witnessed the whole thing. True, this pro-ISA people have a right to voice their opinions. But why can't they do it peacefully? They just have to act like samseng (gangters), shouting and making noise, and purposely wanting to disrupt the anti-ISA event.

Why can't they organise a forum of their own to show how much they support the ISA? Why disrupt the anti-ISA event? Well, we all know the answer. They have no brains to organise one. Even if they did, there won't be many people turning up.

If it was their own forum, they couldn't be shouting and abusing people. So they have to be samseng and disrupt this event.

Tok Janggut: These pro-ISA protesters are a bunch of idiots. The ISA has never been used against thieves and criminals. Find something more meaningful to demonstrate about, lah. But do they have a police permit to demonstrate? Not necessary, I suppose, since they are from Umno.

Multi-Racial: Well, it is now confirmed. Not just the prime minister and his cabinet want to keep the ISA, but even those ordinary members from Umno want it. I don't care whether they are just a few idiots, but the rest are silent, meaning they agree or are too cowardly to voice out.

So people, what BN said is that they will never remove ISA. So remove BN in the next general elections and let's see whether the new government will do the work of repealing the ISA. We are not sure it will happen, but at least we now know BN won't.

Gerard Samuel Vijayan: Frankly, these pro-ISA protestors should be allowed to ventilate their views in a peaceful and orderly manner but not by slapping or intimidating the anti-ISA group or forum members.

What I fail to understand is why the police keep silent when pro-Umno/BN groups demonstrate illegally but spring into action even when there is a small candlelight anti-ISA vigil?

The provisions of the Police Act 1967 should be applied fairly and equally against all demonstrations, gatherings, meetings and processions that do not have a permit, at least until the Act is repealed or amended. However, the bias and prejudice of the police is clear to see when it involves the Pakatan Rakyat or anti-BN groups or NGOs.

The choice to boycott the mamak traders in Penang is an exercise of individual rights. While not all ought to be victimised but those KMA mamaks who are hell-bent on creating trouble and incite racial and religious hatred in Penang just to serve the Umno/BN agenda should be punished by the public.

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