ISA repeal: Part of a public relations ploy to help Najib grab self-glory

It is great public relations when a prime minister gives a televise speech and make bold announcements. It was John Kennedy who recognized this and his speech to put a man on the moon by the end of the 1960s was widely carried over American television. Another president, the late Ronald Reagan, charmed his voters over the screen and remains a popular president till today. Credits to Reagan, he was an actor before and he knew the benefits of playing up a character on the square box.

Over the years, politicians have used the television screen to convey images and pronounce bold statements. Malaysia is no exception. The mass-media is totally under the thumb of the government and Malaysians are served a daily plethora of propaganda that everything government is good and everything opposition is bad. State-control media would not think twice to play every issue to the hilt as long as it satisfies their political masters.

It is into this world of the fake and the make-believe that Najib Razak has stepped. Guided by his media team led by Omar Mustapha, Najib is now taking Malaysia into another public relations minefield that can have even more serious repercussions for the country's image than the FBC Media and APCO fiascos.

Legacy show

Even so, when making the announcement to abolish the ISA, which he may have wanted to make his legacy, Najib made sure it would be a glitzy affair. A pre-announcement of the announcement was made by Rais Yatim. There was also the usual 'leaked' news to various government media to give a hint of what was likely to happen.

Yet, most Malaysians believe that Najib is saying all the right things for the sake of sounding good. Why? Because, at the same time, he is doing all the wrong things. His words and actions don't jive. Suddenly, every statement he makes is peppered with “the rakyat is important” and Malaysians are asked to believe that his administration has an ear to the heartbeat of the nation, that they empathise with what the rakyat (populace) is talking about and aspires to.

But why is it only now that Najib and his administration are suddenly aware of what the rakyat wants? It seems to have spawned a mimicking game amongst the BN politicians, and suddenly, they are all rushing to make references to the rakyat and what the rakyat wants. Does this mean that all along, before the announcement, Najib and gang did not know what the rakyat really wanted?

It is all too good to be true and that is the sad situation in the country. Every one of Najib's actions is scripted by his public relations and media people and they try to make him appear to be a man of the people. It is a hallmark of western politics that the statesman is always indebted to the people and this is played to the hilt to win over the popularity points.

But in Najib's case, everything is wrong in the equation. As they say, every dog has his day and Najib and his advisers are learning the hard way that every statement must be followed up by an action. All talk and no action makes Najib a dull boy!

The US Patriot Act

By repealing the ISA we will now have to deal with two new acts, yet to be tabled in Parliament. There are no guarantees these two new acts will not be as restrictive as the ISA. For the sake of his 'legacy', Najib may duped the people and his own party by swapping an evil for a greater evil. If this turns out to be true, the rakyat will pay dearly.

Yes, the rakyat said “No to ISA” but we obviously did not say “Yes to new restrictive laws”. The government seems to have heard wrongly.

It has been reported that the new laws would most likely mirror the US Patriot Act, which is crafted to prevent terrorist actions in Malaysia. The Patriot Act was a response to the terrorist attacks of September 11th, and dramatically reduced restrictions on law enforcement agencies' ability to search telephone, e-mail communications, medical, financial, and other records.

It also eased restrictions on foreign intelligence gathering within the United States, expanded the Secretary of the Treasury’s authority to regulate financial transactions, particularly those involving foreign individuals and entities, and broadened the discretion of law enforcement and immigration authorities in detaining and deporting immigrants suspected of terrorism-related acts. The Patriot Act also expanded the definition of terrorism to include domestic terrorism, thus enlarging the number of activities to which law enforcement powers can be applied. On May 26, 2011, President Barack Obama signed a four-year extension of three key provisions in the Patriot Act: roving wiretaps, searches of business records (the "library records provision"), and conducting surveillance of "lone wolves" — individuals suspected of terrorist-related activities not linked to terrorist groups.

Mahathir warns against US template

But it looks like Najib will have to backtrack on his words that the contentious new laws would be based on the US Patriot Act. Just a day ago, former premier Mahathir Mohamad, a still powerful figure in Umno, has come out swinging at the US idea.

While supporting the repeals plan, Mahathir also said the ISA was not that bad. The former premier, who made full use of the ISA to incarcerate his political rivals during his time in power, made it obvious he did not think highly of either the US or the UK.

"After the abolition of the Act, we can start the campaign to seek the freedom of those detained without trial, for example, at the Guantanamo Bay detention centre. Previously, they criticised Malaysia purportedly for being cruel, detaining people without trial, but they are the ones doing it now."

Regional hero or exporting lies and deceit?

It looks the new laws will be homegrown. And if Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim was right, the replacements will be as Najib had said at private meetings with Umno hardliners. The new laws will be every bit as "tough" as the ISA itself.

Yet there is already a move by the Najib spin team to claim 'regional credit' for removing the oppressive laws.To them, Najib is a trend-setter, creating a 'domino effect' that might force Singapore and Indonesia into the same action.

But while it may be timely for these regional neighbours to take a leaf from Malaysia, they must ensure that they do not follow the second leg of Najib's highly dubious repeals plan - which are replacement laws that could hand the government even greater discretionary powers!

If they did, then it would expose Malaysia to even greater odium in the world's stage as an exporter of political lies and deceit.

Najib does not seem to have learnt his lesson despite getting caught for paying FBC Media millions to churn out self-glorifying news about himself and his policies to international broadcasters such as CNN, CNBC and BBC.

But if he is not careful, exporting lies and deceit may well be his only memorable legacy.

- Malaysia Chronicle