Well, it appears that both petrol and the Internal Security Act (ISA) can indeed ‘mix’ judging from what Inspector-General of Police Musa Hassan recently said.
In a report from Online Star:
Those responsible for spreading rumours that petrol stations in the country were going on strike would be dealt with severely, Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Musa Hassan said.
“This is an evil and treacherous act to sabotage the economy. I will find out who is behind this and I will take action against them under the Internal Security Act,” he warned after closing the Internal Security and Public Order Department Endurance Test Event here on Wednesday.
Is the IGP really serious about detaining without trial people who are distressed by the rising costs of living and the possibility of uncertain supplies of some essential goods and services?
There is a need to think of the underlying causes of rumours in a society like ours, one of which is a lack of information and credible sources of information.
Remember, these are ordinary people who had been told time and again by certain government leaders that the prices of things, say petrol, would not be raised in the near future – but only to be jolted the next day or the day after by a price hike.
Besides, these consumers are not panicky about the possibility of a raised price or a short supply of Gucci handbags and Louis Vuitton designer wear. They’re talking of basic necessities.
From another perspective, the IGP’s warning on the use of the ISA against Malaysians can be construed as another way of justifying the existence and use of the obnoxious law. It seems that the definition of ISA has once again been stretched to include people who have gone panicky over petrol supply, apart from the previous inclusion of people who faked ICs, and who are government critics and dissidents, among others.
Furthermore, this ISA warning runs counter to the current sentiments of many people in the country. Civil society groups, particularly GMI (Gerakan Mansuh ISA, or Anti-ISA Movement), have called for the repeal of the ISA, a piece of legislation that violates human rights and goes against the very tenets of Islam and many other religions. The Pakatan-led Selangor state government, for instance, has given support to the GMI. (See here for example.)
The people in power are the ones who should be put behind bars! Sikit2 nak guna ISA. They just love to intimidate the rakyat!!! Abuse of ISA.
Ok, perhaps we better make a list of things that we cannot do – or we’d be arrested under the ISA. So that we will be safe. And since we’re on this topic, we’ll make spreading rumours ‘number one’ on our list:
1. Don’t spread rumours about petrol stuff, or you could be arrested under the ISA.
OK, got it. Will keep my eyes and ears open for the next entry. Or, maybe someone could help me out here…? Is there anything else I should include on my list?