Seapa condemns crackdown in Malaysia

Seapa called on Malaysian authorities to immediately release the parties concerned -- a blogger, a journalist and an opposition politician -- all of whom were arrested under Malaysia's Internal Security Act (ISA) on September 12.

In its statement issued on Monday, the organisation also join in the call for the outright junking of the ISA, the draconian law that allows for detention without trial, and which has often been wielded to stifle dissent and free expression, while denying citizens due process of law.

 Blogger Raja Petra Kamaruddin was arrested last Friday, Journalist Tan Hoon Cheng, who works in the "Sin Chew Daily", a Chinese-language newspaper that had recently covered a controversial and racially-sensitive outburst from a ruling party member, was also arrested.

Finally, Teresa Kok, a lawmaker from the Chinese-based DAP, and Deputy Chief Minister in Selangor, was also arrested under the ISA.

Malaysian media, oppositionists, and activists have expressed fears that Malaysia may be headed for a bigger crackdown.

The Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ), a SEAPA Alerts partner based in Kuala Lumpur, said the measures "bear a disturbing resemblance to the period in the lead-up to the Operasi Lalang in 1987" when dozens of activists, artists, academics and politicians  were detained.

"Both incidents are similar in that it relates to ongoing political crisis within (Malaysian ruling party) UMNO, but manifested as alleged racial tension by the government."

The wave of arrests last Friday may also be part of a wider campaign that also saw last week three Malaysian newspapers—the "Sin Chew Daily"; "The Sun". which is a free English-language daily; and "Suara Keadilan", which is published by the opposition—threatened with  suspension.

Though journalist Tan was released 16 hours after getting arrested, blogger Raja Petra and oppositionist Tan remained detained as of September 15.

The perceived crackdown on dissenting voices  does not encourage hope for a more democratic Malaysia. Indeed, it suggests that the government is ready to reverse the slow, tentative expansion of political and media space in Malaysia over the past few years.