Penangites light candles against ISA

Some 500 people from different racial, religious and political backgrounds held a candlelight vigil in Georgetown to protest the government’s decision to invoke the Internal Security Act.

Held outside the Dewan Sri Pinang near the High Court building under the watchful eyes of some 30 policemen, anti-ISA activists at the vigil called on the government to release all ISA detainees from the Kamunting Detention Centre and abolish the draconian security law.

Politicians from Pakatan Rakyat and activists from Suaram, Anti-ISA movement, Save Ourselves, Aliran, Hindu Rights Action Force Aliran, Tanjung Workers Service Centre, the Women's Centre for Change, Penang Watch, the Penang Office for Human Development and the Socio-Economic and Environmental Research Institute (Seri) took part in the vigil.

Among them were DAP parliamentarians Chow Kon Yeow, Liew Chin Tong and Chong Eng, PKR assemblyperson Jason Ong. Suaram Penang coordinator Lau Shu Shi, Aliran president P Ramakrishnan, social activists Anil Netto and B K Ong, and former Gerakan leader Toh Kin Woon.

They all lit candles, carried anti-ISA banners and rendered anti-ISA and human rights songs to register their protest while many passing motorists honked in support.

They said ISA was originally a British legislation meant to combat the communist insurgency and terrorism.

However, they said over the years the Act has been frequently abused to stifle dissent and punish government dissidents.

"This has provoked many ordinary Malaysians to call for its abolition.”

Last Friday, prominent blogger Raja Petra Kamaruddin, DAP MP Teresa Kok and Sin Chew Daily journalist Tan Hoon Cheng were detained under the ISA.

'Welcome to the ISA club'

Tan, who penned the report on the derogatory remarks made by Umno chieftain Ahmad Ismail regarding the Chinese community, was released Saturday afternoon.

The journalist made an emotional appearance at the vigil to thank the people for their support. "Without your support, I would not have been freed so fast," she quipped.

Politicians and activists also took turn to address the crowd at the vigil which lasted for an hour.

In their common call, they demanded for the immediate release of ISA detainees and challenged the government to charge them in open court if it had evidence.

"Otherwise the detainees should be set free unconditionally," they said.

In a separate anti-ISA press conference, Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng described Tan as an 'instant ISA detainee' and welcomed her to join the 'ISA detainees club' which included opposition leaders Anwar Ibrahim, Lim Kit Siang, Karpal Singh, the late P Patto and himself.

"Tan seems fated to be branded as an ISA detainee," he said.

The trio's detention also drew criticism from federal de facto Law Minister Zaid Ibrahim, who threatened to resign if the government continues to use the ISA against anyone, other than to curb terrorism.

The outspoken Barisan Nasional politician also called for the immediate release of Raja Petra and Kok.