Karpal: Nazri, you got your facts wrong on EO
Jul 20, 11 4:43pm
DAP chairperson Karpal Singh has lambasted Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Nazri Abdul Aziz for getting his facts wrong in seeking to defend the detention of six PSM activists under the Emergency Ordinance.
As the de facto minister of law, much more is expected of him than “irresponsible and inaccurate” statements over the law as well as his defence of its application against the 'PSM Six' as the activists have been dubbed.
Zeroing in on Nazri's remarks that the EO was enacted and came into power as a measure to curb communist insurgency in 1948 to 1960, Karpal pointed out that the Emergency (Public Order and Prevention of Crime) Ordinance No 5 of 1969 came about following the May 13 riots, not for the purpose of combatting communism.
It was the Emergency Regulations 1948 that was enacted by the British at the height of the communist insurgency and that, after independence in 1957, were rehashed as the Internal Security Act (ISA) in 1960.
“This ordinance (EO) has all along been used to quell gangland activities. It has never been used to combat communism,” said Karpal in a statement today.
In addition the gaffe over the letter of the law, Nazri had also erred in defending the use of the EO on the PSM activists on the pretext of their alleged communist agenda, Karpal added.
The use of the EO amounts to “unadulterated abuse of it” and the six persons detained should be released immediately, he said.
Recounting the peace accord signed between the Malayan Communist Party (MCP) and the government on Dec 2, 1989, Karpal said MCP had pledged their loyalty to the Agong has since ceased all militant activities and agreed to disband its armed units and destroyed all their weapons.
Karpal also described claims that the PSM activists were seeking to revive communism as “devoid of substance and merit” and “completely hollow and cannot stand close scrutiny”.
“With the signing of the peace accord, the MCP insurgency in Malaysia came to an end. The question of it being revived does not arise having regard to the virtual end of communism internationally. It is beyond revival.”
Sungai Siput MP Dr Michael D Jeyakumar and five other PSM activists were arrested late last month when they were found with materials that the police alleged promoted communism and were proof of their plans to wage 'war against the Agong'.
They were initially accused of violating Section 122 of the Penal Code, but this was dropped. The six were later rearrested under the EO on July 2 after a brief release over allegations that they were a threat to public order.
DAP chairperson Karpal Singh has lambasted Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Nazri Abdul Aziz for getting his facts wrong in seeking to defend the detention of six PSM activists under the Emergency Ordinance.
As the de facto minister of law, much more is expected of him than “irresponsible and inaccurate” statements over the law as well as his defence of its application against the 'PSM Six' as the activists have been dubbed.Zeroing in on Nazri's remarks that the EO was enacted and came into power as a measure to curb communist insurgency in 1948 to 1960, Karpal pointed out that the Emergency (Public Order and Prevention of Crime) Ordinance No 5 of 1969 came about following the May 13 riots, not for the purpose of combatting communism.
It was the Emergency Regulations 1948 that was enacted by the British at the height of the communist insurgency and that, after independence in 1957, were rehashed as the Internal Security Act (ISA) in 1960.
“This ordinance (EO) has all along been used to quell gangland activities. It has never been used to combat communism,” said Karpal in a statement today.
In addition the gaffe over the letter of the law, Nazri had also erred in defending the use of the EO on the PSM activists on the pretext of their alleged communist agenda, Karpal added.
The use of the EO amounts to “unadulterated abuse of it” and the six persons detained should be released immediately, he said.Recounting the peace accord signed between the Malayan Communist Party (MCP) and the government on Dec 2, 1989, Karpal said MCP had pledged their loyalty to the Agong has since ceased all militant activities and agreed to disband its armed units and destroyed all their weapons.
Karpal also described claims that the PSM activists were seeking to revive communism as “devoid of substance and merit” and “completely hollow and cannot stand close scrutiny”.
“With the signing of the peace accord, the MCP insurgency in Malaysia came to an end. The question of it being revived does not arise having regard to the virtual end of communism internationally. It is beyond revival.”Sungai Siput MP Dr Michael D Jeyakumar and five other PSM activists were arrested late last month when they were found with materials that the police alleged promoted communism and were proof of their plans to wage 'war against the Agong'.
They were initially accused of violating Section 122 of the Penal Code, but this was dropped. The six were later rearrested under the EO on July 2 after a brief release over allegations that they were a threat to public order.
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