Najib's magic wand/wang makes ISA and PPPA1984 disappear!

Wit' one strike, PM Najib Tun Razak in a Malaysia Day ambush, has pulled the rug from under the Pakatan Rakyat's tripod feet -- are PKR, DAP and PAS similarly prepared to counter-strike? I know it's just promies by the UMNO chief at this stage; I will just give him the benefit of the doubt for once that he will keep his word!

I must give credit where credit is due. Najib appeared sometimes to be another Mahathir-follower, but this time he surpassed his sifu. Many critics from the Opposition andf NGOs have thought Najib incapable on "intellligent" moves. But theyt have underestimated the "counsellors at the back -- be it APCO, Rockybru's team of cybertroopers or Rosmah's Trojan-horse troopers -- they all have read the signals well and the Prime Minister yesterday pulled out from the rabbit's hat a magic wand to wave some key opposition ammo from striking the UMNO as key target in the coming 13GE.

Foreshadowing this latest volley, Najib moved a strategic battle ground by hosting the Hari Raya Aidilfitri celebrations in the Oppositiuon Leader Sdr Anwar Ibrahim's lair -- Permatang Pauh, just several days earlier.

(More to come...)


From The Star:

Friday September 16, 2011

Najib announces major changes in controversial laws as Malaysia Day gifts

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysians received a significant Malaysia Day present in the form of greater civil liberties and democratic reforms under sweeping changes announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

Saying that the country is evolving and the people wanted more freedom, Najib outlined the historic announcement in his Malaysia Day eve address that was telecast live on TV.

The changes, he stressed, were to accommodate and realise a mature, modern and functioning democracy; to preserve public order, enhance civil liberty and maintain racial harmony.

All these changes will need to be tabled in Parliament.

Six of the best

>The Internal Security Act (ISA) 1960 will be repealed.

- In its place, two new laws will be enacted to safeguard peace and order the detention period will be reduced and can only be extended by the courts, except in cases involving terrorism.

>Three remaining emergency proclamations to be lifted are:

- Emergency 1969, Emergency 1966 (Sarawak) and Emergency 1977 (Kelantan).

>Banishment Act 1959 will also be repealed.

>The annual licence renewal requirement for newspapers and publications will be replaced with a one-off permit by reviewing the Printing Presses and Publications Act 1984.

>Reviewing the Restricted Residence Act 1933.

>Allowing greater freedom to assemble by reviewing Section 27 of the Police Act 1967 by taking into consideration Article 10 of the Federal Constitution which guarantees every citizen with the right to freedom of speech and assembly

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DESIDERATA: From now on, the three PR component parties need to anticipate more initiatives from Najib -- this is one PM who many quarters have underestimated up until the eve 48 anniversary of Malaysia Day, and what a surprise. Even bloggers who normally are one step ahead of hearing on the grapevine -- after mingling with the UMNO bloggers like aVoice and Rockybru -- are quite quite unaware of the premier strike.

Well, there are some chameleonic politicians like Kita's chief who quickly jumped on the bandwagon to try reap the 15minutes of media fame. Maybe Zaid Ibrahim, short-term candidate for number two PKR post just months ago, should start wriggling his way back into UMNO; he may get an easy UMNO stronghold in the impending general elections.

But my reading is that Najib has a team of advisers who are now more attuned with the masses' thinking -- OR is the latest barrage of surprises a volley to deflect DPM-cum-deputy UMNO chief Muhyidddin Yassin, and the ambitious Deputy International Trade and Industry Minister Muhkriz (well guided by his daddy who just couldn't retire from politics!) Mahathir's concerted moves to destabilise their party chief's position?