The Deputy Prime Minister’s comments on democracy, by-elections and the Internal Security Act (ISA), as reported in the Star and the New Straits Times, begs the question whether he actually understands the meaning of the word “democracy”. Somehow, BN politicians will only use the concept when it fits them.

Anyway, here’s the press statement on the matter by Sivarasa Rasiah, one of KEADILAN’s Vice Presidents:

Democracy, By-Elections & the ISA

This statement is a direct response to the comments made by the Deputy Prime Minister, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, in relation to the democratic process, by-elections and the Kota Alam Shah assemblyman, Mr. M. Manoharan.

It is absurd for the Deputy Prime Minister to say that having by-elections is an abuse of the democratic process. Although it is true that voters expect their representatives to carry out their duties once they are elected, it is implied that the elected representatives must be able to do so effectively. Moreover, when a by-election is held, the political party concerned is going back to the same voters to elect who is the best person to replace the outgoing elected representative. Indeed, unlike certain elected representatives in Perak who left the parties they ran for elections under, it is much more democratic to return to the people for them to choose their new representative.

In addition, the exceptions mentioned by Tan Sri Muhyiddin to justify resignations by elected representatives, i.e. bankruptcy, conviction and death, are far too limited and simplistic. Would it be tenable for an elected representative to hold on to her position if an unavoidable conflict of interest arises or if she is simply unable to perform her duties?

In the case of the Kota Alam Shah assemblyman, although Tan Sri Muhyiddin says that “he is lawfully eligible to serve his constituents”, it ought to be obvious that being an effective representative of the people depends on a lot more than just legal eligibility. The people of Kota Alam Shah deserves their elected representative’s time and attention, which he is more than ready and willing to give but simply cannot because he is detained without trial under the Internal Security Act (ISA). Moreover, not only is Mr. Manoharan a lawyer by profession, he is also a loving husband and father. Is it fair to expect him to put his family through hardship so that he can hold on to a position with responsibilities that he is unable to perform. To avoid a by-election in Selangor, the Barisan Nasional government can and ought to release Mr. Manoharan, whom more than 7,000 voters believe is not a threat to national security.

The BN government should release not only Mr. Manoharan but also all ISA detainees. No civilised society can condone the practice of detention without trial which has resulted in some ISA detainees languishing in jail for up to 8 years. KEADILAN and Pakatan Rakyat stand steadfast in our position that these laws have no more relevance in Malaysia and call for their immediate abolition. Our criminal justice system is more that adequate to deal with any threats to security. The current proposal of a review of the ISA is therefore for us a proposal that is no more relevant. The only thing to do with the ISA is to abolish it and all other laws that provide for continuous detention without trial.