US slams Malaysia for using harsh law against foes

The Associated Press , Washington | Fri, 09/19/2008 8:11 AM | World

The United States strongly criticized Malaysia’s government Thursday for its use of a harsh security law to justify the arrests of opposition figures.

U.S. State Department spokesman Sean McCormack referred in a special statement to a possibility that the law might be used again by Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi’s government to quell dissent.

“The United States views with grave concern recent use by the government of Malaysia of the Internal Security Act and the possibility that it might be used again to detain opposition political figures,” McCormack said. “The statement by a government figure that a leading member of the opposition had become ‘a threat to the economy and national security’ is extremely troubling.”

Opposition dissent over Badawi’s leadership has caused a climate of political insecurity in Malaysia.

An opposition lawmaker, two journalists and at least one Internet blogger critical of the government have been arrested under the security act, which allows indefinite detention without charges.

“The United States firmly believes that national security laws, such as the ISA, must not be used to curtail or inhibit the exercise of universal democratic liberties or the peaceful expression of political views. The detention of opposition leaders under the ISA would be viewed by the United States and the international community as a fundamental infringement of democratic rights and values,” McCormack said.