PETALING JAYA, MALAYSIA, 13 SEPTEMBER 2008

The UMNO led BN government is again using the brute force of the ISA to assault those brave and courageous Malaysians who speak out in the name of truth and integrity about the abuses of power, corruption and racism perpetuated by the ruling clique.

I reiterate my unequivocal opposition to the ISA and condemn the unjustified and illegal detention of blogger and social activist Raja Petra Kamaruddin, Seputeh MP and Selangor State Executive Committee Member YB Teresa Kok and Sin Chew Daily reporter Tan Hoon Cheng.

On March 8th and again on August 26th, the Malaysian people expressed their support at the polls for a government that is more accountable and that fulfills its mandate as representative of the people. The UMNO-led BN government has ignored this call.  Instead of pursuing a reform agenda it has chosen to burn the country to save itself and to maintain its odious grip on power.

We ask the government how far it is willing to go to usurp justice and destroy the institutions of good governance in its attempt to drive the Malaysian people against each other?

We vehemently reject the racial politics used by politicians in the UMNO-led BN government as an attempt to deflect from internal strife within UMNO, and promise that leaders in the Pakatan Rakyat are committed to and capable of building a peaceful, democratic, multiracial society.

We allude to the statement issued by Pakatan Rakyat on 8 September reiterating our full commitment to constitutional guarantees including the position of Islam as the religion of the federation, the freedom to practice other religions, Bahasa Melayu as the national language and the freedom to practice mother tongue languages, and the status of the Malay kings and the special position of the Malays and bumiputera.

I urge the government to assure the Malaysian people that this politically motivated operation is over.  As citizens of a nation that professes to adhere to the spirit of its Constitution, we refuse to live another night in fear.

Those who have been detained under the ISA should be released immediately.  We will offer every conceivable support to our friends and their families as they face this ordeal.

ANWAR IBRAHIM
Opposition Chief
De-facto leader, Keadilan