Last week, Hishamuddin voice out his stand not to release Manoharan as the latter say that he might resign as an elected representative due to his detention under ISA. Hishamuddin says that he will not obey because of the brouhaha over Manoharan possible resignation. Week after that, Manoharan is going to be release soon and the reason given is, he is not a threat to our national security. I can say that this is also a flip-flop decision then.... what do you think?
Please do compare with the earlier news at the bottom... sigh.... What a decision.... everything can change in the blink of eye.... Malaysia.....
http://www.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2009/5/9/nation/20090509083336&sec=nation
Saturday May 9, 2009 - The Star
Hindraf leaders among 13 ISA detainees to be released
PUTRAJAYA: The remaining three leaders of the banned Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) will be released from Internal Security Act detention in the next few days.
M. Manoharan, P. Uthayakumar and K. Vasantha Kumar are among 13 people to be released soon, said Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein.
Six are Malaysians while the others are five Filipinos and two Indonesians.
The release of the three Hindraf leaders comes after two other leaders – V. Ganabatirau and R. Kengadharan – were freed when Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak took office last month.
Other Malaysians to be released are Zulkepli Marzuki, Jeknal Adil and Adzmi Pindatun while the Filipinos are Sufian Salih, Hasim Talib, Abdul Jamal Azahari, Yusof Mohd Salam and Husin Alih. The Indonesians are Zainun Rasyhid and Aboud Ghafar Shahril.
Hishammuddin said the Malaysian detainees would be released once documents were processed.
He said the Malaysian authorities were working with their counterparts in Manila and Jakarta and with the embassies here to get the necessary papers ready to send the foreigners home.
“I will sign the necessary documents now and I hope the Malaysians will be released within the next two to three days,” he said.
In an immediate reaction, Najib said the release of the 13 showed that the Government was not cruel.
He said the police felt that the time had come for them to be released.
“ I think this shows that it’s not true that the Government is carrying out a cruel and repressive policy as claimed by the Opposition, and that we have tried to stifle individual freedom,” he said.
“If these people held under the ISA had not been a threat to our security, we wouldn’t even have detained them for a day. When I first became Prime Minister, I had announced the release of 13 people held under the ISA.
“I want to show that our Government acts based on fair principles and civil liberties,” he said.
Najib denied that the release was planned to lessen the consequences of the pandemonium at the Perak State Assembly meeting on Thursday.
“Please, what do you want? Even if we release them, we are (seen) to be wrong,” he said yesterday.
Hishammuddin denied that Manoharan’s release was linked to the Kota Alam Shah assemblyman’s earlier announcement that he might resign as an elected representative .
Earlier,
http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2009/5/6/nation/3841926&sec=nation
Wednesday May 6, 2009 - The Star
Manoharan held for ‘certain reasons’
KUALA LUMPUR: Kota Alam Shah assemblyman M. Manoharan, who is being detained under the Internal Security Act, will not be released just because of the brouhaha over his possible resignation, Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein said.
Manoharan was arrested under the ISA for certain reasons, he said.
“I can tolerate a review, a new approach and openness, but I will not compromise on national importance, security and the country’s stability and dignity,” he said.
Manoharan had said he would decide on his resignation after meeting DAP chairman Karpal Singh on May 19.
Hishammuddin said he had directed his two deputies to study how much money would be spent each time a by-election was held.
“There seems to be a trend now to have by-elections. The figure is not a small amount. A by-election at the parliamentary level can cost RM20mil to deploy police to ensure safety,” he added.
Hishammuddin also said he had instructed two “best legal minds” each from the police, immigration and prison departments to re-look all laws under his ministry to aid the Law Reform Committee.
“Our focus is on the ISA as it is time for a review,” he said.
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