KUALA LUMPUR: Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad should be detained under the Internal Security Act, said former United Nations official Datuk Param Cumaraswamy.
“His recent speech in Johor Baru not only bordered on sedition but, applying his own standards, qualifies for detention under the ISA,” said Param, the former UN special rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers.
Dr Mahathir had, on May 18, said the Malays were losing their grip on political power and their privileges had been questioned and challenged by non-Malays.
“If those 106 people were detained under the ISA during Operasi Lalang because they indulged in ‘race-baiting’ which he felt threatened the majority of Malaysians, then surely the same criteria could now be applied to Dr Mahathir for his speech.”
In 1987, Operasi Lalang saw 106 people, including opposition party members being detained, some up to several years, and three newspapers shut down for allegedly trying to destabilise the country.
“While I am opposed to the use of the ISA, yet applying the principle of equality before the law, the home minister should seriously consider invoking Section 8 of the ISA and detain Dr Mahathir before he does further damage.”
