RM5-80 per day for food per detainee is pathetic..

RM5.80 a day not enough for meals, says Murugiah

By CHRISTINA KOH

IPOH: Seputeh MP Teresa Kok’s claims that she was served meals resembling dog food during her ISA detention have led to an investigation into the quality of food for suspects in police lock-up.

Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department T. Murugiah said he wanted to first determine if it was true that only RM5.80 was allocated for each detainee’s meals per day.

“If it is true, then it is definitely not enough especially with the price of goods going up. A detainee needs to have breakfast, lunch and dinner.

“Breakfast would cost you at least RM2.50, while a good lunch would be a minimum RM3.50 and dinner RM3.50,” he told a press conference here on Sunday.

Murugiah, who is the Public Complaints Bureau head, felt that each detainee should be allocated about RM10 daily for meals.

He pointed out that suspects detained to assist investigations had not even been charged in court yet or were considered guilty of any crime.

They (detainees) should be treated well. Even in prison, we must treat them as human beings, he said, adding that he would appeal to the Prime Minister and Home Minister to increase the allocation.

Murugiah said he and bureau officials would meet Kok on Monday at her Shah Alam service centre to get her statement.

The investigation, he said, would include paying a visit to the Jalan Travers police station where she was held and to the restaurant that supplied the food.

“We want transparency. I’m quite serious about this and I dont want this to be swept under the carpet. I’m not happy that this news has gone international,” he said.

Murugiah reminded the public that his public complaints bureau (03-8888 7777) had a lot of power to investigate any complaint against any civil servant, ministry or agency.

“We don’t need to get permission from any ministry. We can just walk in, do the investigation and take immediate action.

“If you’re afraid to go to the police or the Anti-Corruption Agency, come to us,” he said.

Last week, Kok drew attention to the food she was given during her seven-day detention at the Jalan Travers police station.

She was freed on Friday after being accused of petitioning a mosque to reduce the volume for the azan, something she has vehemently denied.

PDRM's Media Statement on the ISA arrests - 15/9/2008

In recent weeks, there has been an escalation of racially insensitive, seditious and disparaging acts and remarks by individuals and organisations bringing about a state of unrest and religious tension in the country.

When the police decided to invoke the ISA, the decision was based on intelligence and observation that certain acts by the individuals concerned were detrimental to the calm, peace and harmony of the country.

These acts if not curtailed would cause public disorder and be a threat to national security. An arrest under the ISA is only made when the police strongly believes that certain acts by individual can pose a serious threat to public order and national security.

These are the grounds in which the police based their decision on.

When there are reasonable ground the police will act accordingly under the provisions of Section 73(1) of the ISA. An arrest under the Section provides the police with means to investigate and verify whether the intelligence received can be substantiated.

In the case of the Sin Chew Daily news reporter, she was released as soon as the police had verified the intelligence and found no grounds to detain her further.

In the case of Raja Petra Kamaruddin and Teresa Kok, the police need time to investigate further on their alleged involvement in acts that can be considered as prejudicial to the security of the country.

We have 60 days under the ISA to investigate. As soon as we can establish that we have no firm grounds to substantiate our believes that they pose a threat to national security, we will release those persons.

But at any time within the 60 days, we find that our beliefs are substantiated, we will subject the case to the Minister with the recommendation that the person be detained under the Minister’s order of detention under Section 8(1) of the ISA.

In so far as the investigation is concerned, the police will conduct the investigation professionally and expeditiously, as it would not be in the public interest for the police to act otherwise.

The public are hereby advised not to take matters into their own hands except in accordance to law.

Let the police work within the system and laws of the country. Racial and religious unrest can be triggered over small matters and can escalate into situations that are damaging and irreversible.

We cannot allow the May 13, Kg Medan and Kg Rawa incidents to repeat and destroy the country.

The police will have to take pre-emptive measures in order to prevent the situation from getting out of control.

As such, the public must allow the police to act within the perimeters of the law in this country, including the ISA, which is a swift mechanism for effective action.

The police are continuously monitoring the situation and will not hesitate to take action against anyone who continues inciting racial and religious issues which are detrimental to the calm, peace and harmony of the country.

In the interest of the nation’s peace and harmony, the police will act without fear or favour. The police wish to reiterate and affirm that at the current moment, the situation in this country is calm and under control.

Tan Sri Ismail Omar Deputy Inspector General of Police

Source: Malaysian Bar Website

http://www.malaysianbar.org.my/letters_others/pdrm_s_media_statement_on_the_isa_arrests.html

MADPET: HOME MINISTER’S THREAT TO USE ISA AGAINST BLOGGER DEPLORABLE

MEDIA STATEMENT –

HOME MINISTER’S THREAT TO USE ISA AGAINST BLOGGER DEPLORABLE

- Repeal ISA and release all held under Detention Without Trial Laws -

MADPET (Malaysians Against Death Penalty and Torture) is disturbed by the statement of the Malaysian Home Minister Syed Hamid Albar that the Internal Security Act (ISA) may be used against "Malaysia-Today" blogger Raja Petra Kamaruddin for his comments on the blog which allegedly insulted Islam and Prophet Muhammad. (Bernama report, 5/9/2008 - ISA Can Be Used On Raja Petra, Says Syed Hamid)

It is shocking that the government still chooses to resort to draconian and unjust detention without trial laws like the ISA which do not accord the victim the right to defend himself or a fair and open trial. Clearly the government has not heard the message delivered by the people of Malaysian at the recent general elections.

If what Raja Petra Kamaruddin did was an offence, then charge him. Do not threaten the usage of this ISA or other Detention Without Trial Laws.

MADPET reiterates its call for the abolition of the ISA and all other laws that allow for Detention Without Trial.

MADPET also reiterates its call for the immediate and unconditional release of P. Uthayakumar, M. Manoharan and all those currently detained under the Internal Security Act (ISA) and other laws that allow for detention without trial.

Charles Hector
for Malaysians Against Death Penalty and Torture (MADPET)
6th September 2008

_______________

The relevant BERNAMA and Malaysiakini Reports are as follows:-

ISA Can Be Used On Raja Petra, Says Syed Hamid

PUTRAJAYA, Sept 5 (Bernama) -- Action under the Internal Security Act (ISA) can be taken against "Malaysia-Today" blogger Raja Petra Kamaruddin for his comments on the blog which allegedly insulted Islam and Prophet Muhammad.

Home Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar said if the investigation which was being conducted based on police reports made by four religious agencies found that he committed the offence, Raja Petra would face the action.

Syed Hamid was commenting on the police reports lodged by the Malaysian Islamic Development Department (Jakim), Yayasan Dakwah Islamiah Malaysia (Yadim), Federal Territory Islamic Religious Council (Maiwp) and Federal Territory Religious Department (Jawi) against Raja Petra.

They complained that in his comment on an article entitled "I Promise to be a good, non-hypocritical Muslim", Raja Petra allegedly used sentences which insulted Muslims.

He is also alleged to have allowed comments which degraded Islam and Prophet Muhammad for an article entitled "Not all Arabs are descendants of the Prophet" to be published in the blog.

"The action taken by the religious agencies is in line with the law because his (Raja Petra) actions to use obscene and bad words for Prophet Muhammad is clearly in contradiction of the law.

"The probe and action should be expedited so that he will realise his mistakes and learn to respect Islam," Syed Hamid said.

Although Raja Petra claimed that he was not the blog's owner, Syed Hamid said Raja Petra had to be responsible for the contents published as he had always made himself appear as the sole representative for the blog.

On a related development, Syed Hamid said the establishment of a media council should be reviewed due to the "daringness" shown lately by bloggers to put themselves above the law.

The establishment of such a council was proposed earlier but was protested by media practitioners.

"The establishment of the council is not meant for controlling the media, but more on managing them in case they violate the freedom given to them.

"I will try to discuss with media practitioners to get their feedback on the matter," he added.

-- BERNAMA

******

Syed Hamid: ISA can be used on Raja Petra

Sep 6, 08 12:03pm (Malaysiakini)

Home Minister Syed Hamid Albar said controversial blogger Raja Petra Kamaruddin could be charged under the Internal Security Act for comments allegedly insulting Islam and Prophet Muhammad. MCPX Raja Petra, who edits popular news portal Malaysia Today, is being investigated after several religious groups - Malaysian Islamic Development Department (Jakim), Yayasan Dakwah Islamiah Malaysia (Yadim), Federal Territory Islamic Religious Council (Maiwp) and Federal Territory Religious Department (Jawi) - lodged police reports against him. "The probe and action should be expedited so that he will realise his mistakes and learn to respect Islam," said Syed Hamid, adding that Raja Petra would face action if the authorities found he had committed the offence. The religious groups had complained that his comment in an article entitled "I Promise to be a good, non-hypocritical Muslim", Raja Petra allegedly used sentences that insulted Muslims. Raja Petra is also alleged to have allowed comments to appear on his website that degraded Islam and Prophet Muhammad in an article entitled "Not all Arabs are descendants of the Prophet". "The action taken by the religious agencies is in line with the law because his (Raja Petra) actions to use obscene and bad words for Prophet Muhammad is clearly in contradiction of the law,” Syed Hamid said in a Bernama report. Media council to be reviewed Raja Petra has claimed he does not own the news website, but Syed Hamid said the former still had to be responsible for the contents published as he had always made himself appear as the sole representative for the portal. On a related development, Syed Hamid said the establishment of a media council should be reviewed due to the "daringness" shown lately by bloggers, who dared to put themselves above the law. Media practitioners had protested the establishment of the council. "The establishment of the council is not meant for controlling the media, but more on managing them in case they violate the freedom given to them. I will try to discuss with media practitioners to get their feedback on the matter," Syed Hamid said.