Immediately releasing scums of the earth is PM's priority...

All 125 detainees freed

2011/10/06
By Eileen Ng
news@nst.com.my

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Part of move to repeal Restricted Residence Act, says PM

KUALA LUMPUR: All 125 people detained under the Restricted Residence Act will be freed immediately, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.

The Home Ministry would also revoke more than 200 warrants that it had issued but had not served, he said.

Najib, in announcing this when tabling a motion to repeal the act for the second reading in Parliament yesterday, described the move as a “reasonable decision” because the act was “outdated” and “no longer relevant” in these times.

He cited the principles of democracy and justice, and information and communication technology development and urbanisation as the main push factors.

“I am standing in the august house today to start the process to fulfil the government’s promise. It is very rare in the world for a ruling government to voluntarily reduce its powers.

“However, my colleagues and I will not be distracted from our journey but are committed to do our best for the country’s harmony. This is only the beginning.” The motion was unanimously passed by the house.

Later, when tabling a motion to repeal the Banishment Act for a second reading yesterday, Najib said the repeal was part of the government’s aspirations for a fairer administrative judicial system and to uphold the principles of the Constitution.

DESIDERATA: THe NST report above is reprised partially, but we all know it's just the PM's demonstration as a follow-up to his word given during his Malaysia Day message delivered on Sept 15, 2011, but hey, where is his priority?

I'll expand on my question and comment after reprosducing another NST report; for readers who want to read the full account of the report above, here's the LINK:-

Read more: All 125 detainees freed http://www.nst.com.my/nst/articles/All125detaineesfreed/Article/#ixzz1a1TkJ2GB

The eye-opening report here follows, and it answers my question posed earlier:-

Law was meant to curb vice, gaming

2011/10/05
By Lee Shi-Ian
shiianlee@nst.com.my

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KUALA LUMPUR: The initial objective of the Restricted Residence Act 1933 was to curb non-violent organised crimes, such as gambling and vice.

Under the act, the detainees' movements were restricted to a district where he was prohibited from entering a particular area depending on the decision of the home minister.

The minister may order a person to be placed under supervision for any period not exceeding five years and may renew any such order for a further period, not exceeding one year at any one time.

Once a person had been detained under the act, the detainee shall be required to reside within the limits of the area, town or village specified in the order.

The detainee was not permitted to transfer his residence to any other area, town or village without the written authority of the state police chief.

The detainee was also not allowed to leave his district without the approval of the state police chief.

The detainee must also keep the district police chief notified of his residential address and report or present himself to the nearest police station at the agreed times.

If the detainee was found to have contravened the terms and conditions of his order by leaving the district without prior written approval, he could be liable for imprisonment for up to three years.

Anyone found harbouring a detainee could be fined RM300, or imprisoned for up to six months.

However, the punishment was not applicable to the husband or wife of the detainee.

A police officer may also, without a warrant, arrest any person reasonably suspected of being in any area, town or village and contravening his order.

Read more: Law was meant to curb vice, gaming http://www.nst.com.my/nst/articles/22sire/Article/#ixzz1a1W39mOA

DESIDERATA: In fact, those affected by this ACT and had been detained are the proven menace to society, and Malaysians in general would have been quite happy if the Government had kept these "leeches" comprising vive operators, drug and human traffickers and illegal gaming and gambling operators -- in continued restriction.

I believe some of these elements had even received royal titles and I recall one occasion when then MCA Youth Chief Ong Tee Keat that some of these triad leaders had penetrated the party (MCA).

So the PM wants to demonstrate he means what he pledged to celebarte Malaysia Day last month, but the FIRST PRIORITY SHOULD HAVE BEEN THOSE DETAINED UNDER THE INTERNAL SECURITY ACT (ISA) and that the majority, or at least those who had served one term of two years -- except a few who have clear terrorist connections --should enjoy FIRST RELEASE! Most of these ISA detainees had been victimised because they were either Opposition leaders or supporters, and non-government organiosations' activists who have been anti-establishment.

As a citizen, I have no quarrel IF "The initial objective of the Restricted Residence Act 1933 was to curb non-violent organised crimes, such as gambling and vice. .." as stated by the NST in its opening para. In fact, I would even go as far to say: Maintain this provision under a related law after the Act had been abolished so that such "scum,s of the earthy" remain "dis-abled" as far as possible!