Umno issues show cause letter to Zaid - Malaysiakini

Former de facto Law Minister Zaid Ibrahim (picture right) today said that he had been issued with a show cause letter by Umno, asking him to explain his open letter on the Internal Security Act to the prime minister, according to the news portal Malaysia kini. Read the report below:

"The letter also wanted me to explain my participation in an ISA event organised by the Pakatan Rakyat in Parliament," he told reporters today.

He said that he received the show cause letter sometime last week. He added that his lawyer, Malik Imtiaz Sarwar, would be responding to the matter soon.

Zaid left the cabinet after objecting the use of ISA against member of parliament Teresa Kok, blogger Raja Petra Kamarudin and Sin Chew journalist Tan Hoon Cheng in September.

Last week he also resigned from his post as a senator.

On Sept 29, he wrote an open letter to Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, urging him to repeal the ISA.

He was embroiled in another controversy last week for questioning the status of Malays in a speech. This prompted several Umno leaders to urge the party to take action against Zaid.

Walk for press freedom tomorrow, Sunday, 1st June

A walk for media freedom will take place tomorrow, Sunday (June 1), culminating in a speech by the de facto law minister Zaid Ibrahim on the subject, Press Freedom, at the National Press Club.

From 9 am, Malaysian journalists and their fellow citizens will, together, take a symbolic Walk at Dataran Merdeka.

To avoid problems with security laws, there will be NO PUBLIC GATHERING. Instead, participants are being asked to arrive on their own in ones and twos, show their respect to the National Flag at the Dataran, and then proceed immediately to the National Press Club.

Those who wish to do so are invited to wear something yellow, a reflection that this is a People's Activity.

The event is being jointly organised by media activists, including Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ), Writers Alliance for Media Indepdence (Wami), National Alliance of Bloggers, and BENAR, a cyber group for "free and fair media".

For more information go here and here.