Press Statement
By Teng Chang Khim, National Chairman of the DAP
Socialist Youth (DAPSY) and Selangor State Assemblyman for Bandar Klang
on 13.4.2001
The DAPSY condemns the police for invoking the
draconian Internal Security Act 1960 (ISA) to detain the seven Parti
Keadilan Nasional leaders and reformists.
It is most disgusting for the police to accuse the
seven and others for planning to violently overthrow the government and
were in the process of arming themselves with explosives, grenade
launcher and petrol bombs when not even a shred of evidence is adduced
by the police to substantiate their allegations. Undoubtedly, the police
allegations against them are, hitherto, baseless and unwarranted.
I am puzzled by the Prime Minister’s statement
yesterday that the evidence of such allegations would be decided by the
police. The Prime Minister has to understand that evidence is not
something to be decided by the police but something that tends to prove
or disprove any matter of fact.
The police must convince the public that they have
something that tends to prove or disprove their allegation against the
seven and others. If they do have such evidence, there are sufficient
provisions of laws that deal with the situation when the seven are
prosecuted in the court of law. Resorting to the ISA to detain the seven
without trial merely demonstrates the inability of the police to carry
out their duties in accordance with the rule of law. Failure on the part
of the police to prove their allegations would further erode the public
confidence in the police force.
In the era of globalisation, such arrest and
detention without trial would certainly bring disrepute to the country
and damage the effort to promote the country as the center for
investments and developments.
The DAPSY urges the police to release the seven
immediately or to charge them in court if there are sufficient evidence
to prove their guilt as alleged.
Teng Chang Khim
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