Malaysia Today blogger Raja Petra Kamarudin who is currently detained under the Internal Security Act (ISA) for 2 years in Kamunting today files a second habeas corpus application via his lawyers at the Kuala Lumpur High Court.

The first habeas corpus application filed on 16 September to set Raja Petra free from a 60-day detention is now academic as the Home Minister had signed a 2-year detention order a day before the first hearing.

Please support the call to release Raja Petra and all other ISA detainees by signing the petition to “Free Raja Petra Kamaruddin, Teresa Kok and Others Held Under the Internal Security Act” if you have not done so. (This petition is set up before the release of Teresa Kok).

In our proclamation of independence, our first prime minister gave voice to the lofty aspirations and dreams of the people of Malaya: that Malaya was founded on the principles of liberty and justice, and the promise that collectively we would always strive to improve the welfare and happiness of its people.

Many years have passed since that momentous occasion and those aspirations and dreams remain true and are as relevant to us today as they were then. This was made possible by a strong grasp of fundamentals in the early period of this nation.

The federal constitution and the laws made pursuant to it were well founded; they embodied the key elements of a democracy built on the rule of law. The Malaysian judiciary once commanded great respect from Malaysians and was hailed as a beacon for other nations.

Our earlier prime ministers, Tunku Abdul Rahman, Tun Razak and Tun Hussein Onn were truly leaders of integrity, patriots in their own right and most importantly, men of humility. They believed in and built this nation on the principles and values enunciated in our constitution.

Even when they had to enact the Internal Security Act (ISA) 1960, they were very cautious and apologetic about it. Tunku stated clearly that the Act was passed to deal with the communist threat.

“My cabinet colleagues and I gave a solemn promise to Parliament and the nation that the immense powers given to the government under the ISA would never be used to stifle legitimate opposition and silent lawful dissent”, was what the Tunku said.

Our third prime minister, Tun Hussein Onn, reinforced this position by saying that the ISA was not intended to repress lawful political opposition and democratic activity on the part of the citizenry.

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The Keeper of the Rulers’ Seal tonight announced that the date of Hari Raya Aidilfitri for all states in Malaysia falls on Wednesday 1 October 2008.

Today, more than 20 members of Parti Gerakan Rakyat Malaysia in the Federal Territory quit the party to join Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR).

Among them are former Federal Territory Gerakan information bureau chief Gan Kok Keng, former Federal Territories Youth chief Tan Kang Ho, Federal Territories economic bureau chief Julian Leong, and Wangsa Maju secretary Azali Omar.

Gan also claims that at least 300 members from the Wangsa Maju, Setiawangsa, Bukit Bintang and Kepong divisions will join PKR soon. He said that the party has no decision making powers and has been ignored and insulted many times in the Barisan Nasional (BN).

Meanwhile, at the Gerakan Federal Territory state delegates conference, acting president Dr Koh Tsu Koon said that leaving the BN to join Pakatan Rakyat (PR) is one of the three options the party is considering. The other two options are to remain within BN or to leave but remain independent.

Koh however said a decision cannot be made based on sentiments alone.

“Neither are we saying we will definitely leave. It’s something we need to assess but we cannot do it based on sentiments alone,” he said adding that if based on sentiments, more than 60% of the party members want the party to leave the coalition.

Two anti-ISA events were held in Kuala Lumpur on Saturday night.

One event organized by Hindraf started at 7.30pm with a candlelight vigil and a march from Dataran Merdeka to the Hindu temple near Puduraya terminal. The crowd call for the release of all ISA detainees, particularly Raja Petra Kamarudin & Hindraf 5 detainees.

Another event is organized by the Gerakan Mansuhkan ISA (GMI), Writers’ Alliance for Independence, Youth Section of KL and Selangor Chinese Assembly hall, Youth for change (Y4C), and Malaysia Youth and Students Democratic Movement (DEMA) involving a march from Central Market to the Merdeka Stadium.