PM: No ISA against Karpal, Nizar

There are no plans and need to use the Internal Security Act (ISA) on DAP chairman Karpal Singh and (former) Perak Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

Commenting on calls by several quarters to punish Karpal Singh under the act for allegedly jeopardising the security of the country by contemplating legal action against the Perak Sultan, he said: "There are no plans to use ISA and no need to do so."

However, "investigations are still ongoing and when it is completed, a report will be presented to the Attorney-General for the necessary action to be taken." he said.

Several groups have been calling for action to be taken against Karpal Singh and Mohammad Nizar for insulting the Sultan of Perak who is regarded as an institution which upholds and symbolises Malay rights and Islam, in addition to being honoured in the second tenet of the Rukun Negara.

Karpal indicated legal action against the Sultan for the ruler's decision to appoint Barisan Nasional (BN) as the new state government following defections by four assemblymen from the Pakatan Rakyat (PR) to BN.

The trio Mohamad Osman Jailu (Changkat Jering), Jamaluddin Mohd Radzi (Behrang) and Hee Yit Foong (Jelapang) resigned from their parties and remain as independent assemblymen aligned to the BN.

Nizar has to date refused to relinquish his post as Perak Mentri Besar as ordered by the Sultan (Azlan Shah).

Abdullah also said that there were no plans to force Mohammad Nizar out of the official residence which he is occupying.

"Newly appointed Menteri Besar Datuk Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir has been casual about it saying that he had his own car and house to work out of," he said.

"But I believe he (Nizar) will leave, it won’t be long as the state government has sent him repeated reminders to leave his office and official residence," he said.

"There is no need for force, we will stick to stern advice," he added. - The Sun