Malaysia Notes

SHAH ALAM: Blogger Raja Petra Raja Kamarudin said he was surprised to be released from detention under the Internal Security Act (ISA).

“Not many people who challenged Section 8 of the ISA have succeeded, so I did not give much hope to it. It is a sort of 50-50. I was surprised actually,” said the 58-year-old.

Asked about his feelings, Raja Petra said, “I am just too tired”.

To a question on what this experience taught him, he said, “I suppose we have to fight all-out to get the ISA abolished. I suppose the cause has been recognised.”

He also said that the ISA was not a valid law to be used against political dissidents.

“The court decision has made very clear the message that ISA cannot be used for political reasons.

“I am not a terrorist. I am not a dangerous person. I am just a writer,” he said.

Asked if he was looking forward to having Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak as the Prime Minister, Raja Petra said, “I am waiting for Anwar (PKR adviser Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim) to become the Prime Minister.”

The scruffy-bearded Raja Petra was given a hero’s welcome and garlanded with flowers as he walked out of the Shah Alam High Court a free man.

Smiling broadly, he spoke briefly to reporters before greeting the horde of supporters who were at the court since morning in anticipation of his release.

His supporters, clad in various colours with different slogans on their T-shirts saying, “Free RPK, Abolish ISA, We Want Our Rights, No to ISA and No Holds Barred,” clapped and cheered in and outside the courtroom.

Raja Petra left for home in a maroon Rolls-Royce car at 3.35pm.

He was accompanied by wife Marina Lee Abdullah. Also present was DAP’s Ronnie Liu, who is also a Selangor state executive councillor.

by The Star