RPK ISA detention: ILLEGAL!

Technorati tags: Justice, RPK, ISA, Anti-ISA

Updated @ 6:06pm (see full post, after the break) 

Original Post:
Just got the news, folks - with thanks to Lord Panda.

Walski's somewhat tied up with work to do at the moment, so stay tuned later for updates and thoughts. But this one thought did cross Walski's mind when he heard the good news:

Justice 1 - Malaysia's Most Hated 0

Stay tuned for more, later in the day...
(an update, some personal thoughts, and more, in the full post)

Update:
According to Malaysiakini, RPK was released today at 3:20pm, after being presented at the Shah Alam High Court 5 minutes earlier. 

Expressing surprise with the decision, Raja Petra said: "Not many people have challenged the act (ISA) so much and I did not have much high hopes (of being released).

"This application allowed under Section 8 is a special prize. I am tired."

"This showed ISA cannot be used. I hope this is not a political decision. I don't want to be the prime minister. I want Anwar to be the PM," he said.

"We have to fight all-out and get the ISA abolished," he told reporters.
(source: Malaysiakini, subscription required)

And Walski concurs - RPK's release is fantastic, but doesn't take anything away from the fact that ISA is WRONG, WRONG, WRONG.

Detention without trial is unconscienable by any moral standard, including Islam's. Ironically, however, it was a police report from a few government Islamic bodies that initiated actions leading to Raja Petra's arrest around a month ago.

Today, however, justice prevailed. Which leaves us with this interesting question: if the judge ruled that Syed Hamid Albar acted ultra vires (beyond his authority) in issuing the 2 year detention order, what guarantee is there that as long as he is the Home Minister, something similar will not happen?

In most other civilized societies, when someone in such a position screws up, even unintentionally, the honorable course of action is clear - resignation.

However, it will probably be a cold day in hell before Malaysia's Most Hated does the right and honorable thing... 

After all, power and position is always more important to the typical UMNO politician. Although, having said that, Walski would be more than happy to be proven wrong...

In the meantime, Walski is elated that RPK has been released. For the first time in a long while, Walski's faith in the judiciary seems to see some hope of restoration...