Malaysia arrests another blogger

Malaysia today used the Internal Security Act to arrest kickdefella or Syed Azidi Syed Abdul Aziz (photo) who made his name in the Malaysian blogosphere first by designing spoof movie posters of government leaders, then went on to become a blogger for the opposition PAS and then recently courted controversy by f

lying the Malaysian flag upside down.

Ironically, Shiekh, as he’s also known wrote just a few days ago that he actually supported the Internal

Security Act. Here’s what he said:

Sheih on Sheih: The Guardian Angel of Malaysia

13 09 2008

Since long ago, I have been very vocal about supporting the Internal Security Act. But I am always against the usage of it for political purposes. I respect the views of friends whom are against the so call draconian law. I share the sorrow of the families of those Malaysians who are

detained under ISA.

ISA is a good answer as a preventive measure. A person should be charge under ISA if he is deems dangerous and his action or idea can damage the society and the country. He is not a criminal. He has yet to commit a crime. Nevertheless, if he is allowed to continue to roam freely, terrible things can happen.

But, if a citizen had committed the crime, he or she should be charge under the correct law for the crime that he did. It is no more an issue about preventing him to commit the crime. If crime happened, the authority should be able to prove it and all the evidence should point to the suspect. He meanwhile is protect under the constitution and is innocent until proven guilty in the court of law.

My personal view about the latest happening is this is no more a preventive move but rather a defensive move by Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, the Prime Minister of Malaysia.

As Malaysian, we should stand for what best for the country, even if it means that the usage of ISA is seek upon.

Stand for what best for Malaysia, not for what best for Abdullah, his family and comrades.

Malaysia had last week arrested a blogger, Raja Petra Kamaruddin of Malaysia Today, an opposition Member of Parliament Theresa Kok and journalist Tan Hoon Cheng who reported on the racist remarks of Umno MP Ahmad Ismail. Tan was released within 20 hours and the government kept issuing contradicting statements as to why they arrested her and why they released her after so short a period.

This is against the backdrop of Anwar Ibrahim threatening to take power from the Government by getting 31 MPs to defect to his camp.

Anwar has so far been playing a cat and mouse game with Prime Minister Ahmad Badawi, saying he will release the names after he meets Badawi. of course Badawi is not meeting him and will not do so if he can help it.

The latest arrest adds to the general confusion and anxiety in Malaysia as the present government tries to find its way our of the rut it is in and try to regain the political control they have been losing since before the General Elections. It looks like the government is now on its last legs, tottering and drunk from confusion, reacting to things rather than having a plan. It is succumbing to chaos and therefore not being very rational at all.

What ar malaysians to do? Wait and chip away at the foundations till this tired government falls. Then they’d probably have to battle Anwar when he gets to power and show his true colors. Unspun thinks Malaysia is in for prolonged hard times.

My love for the Guardian Angel of Malaysia will remain.