Govt credibility affected by ISA abuse

malaysianinsider | The release of Seputeh MP Teresa Kok after being detained for seven days under the Internal Security Act has done the Barisan Nasional government's credibility no good.

"This flip-flopping doesn't inspire confidence," former MCA vice-president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek said of her surprise release after a 28-day remand order had earlier been issued.

He speculated that there was a possibility that the police felt they would lose the habeas corpus case against her detention.

This was echoed by political analyst Khoo Kay Peng, who said the move trivialised the ISA.

"You cannot detain her without first ascertaining the grounds of arrest and now release her and pretend nothing happened."

The opposition are now expected to go to town with this sudden release, with adviser Lim Kit Siang promising that the end of the "Free Teresa Kok" movement would soon be replaced by a concerted

effort to "abolish the ISA or abolish the BN government."

"There should be a full public inquiry as to how the ISA was invoked and disciplinary action, including sacking of officers should be done if they are found to have been irresponsible. You don't use the ISA to

go on a fishing expedition, just as you don't use it to provide police

protection," said the party stalwart.... selanjutnya.