Muhyiddin: Don’t use ISA as a reason to quit


(NST) KUALA LUMPUR: Elected representatives should display greater responsibility towards their constituents rather than abandon their duties unreasonably.

Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said M. Manoharan should not use his detention under the Internal Security Act (ISA) as a reason to quit as Kota Alam Shah state assemblyman.

"After winning an election, it's time for him to get to work. He should be responsible enough and not step down unnecessarily as is being done by those from some political parties.

"The exceptions are when he is declared a bankrupt, convicted or dies."

He said DAP's Manoharan could still perform his duties despite being under ISA detention.

He said this after a visit to Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka in Jalan Wisma Putra here yesterday.

On the review of the ISA, Muhyiddin said the government was studying input from various quarters, including civil societies, political parties and Malaysians at large.

Manoharan had expressed his intention to quit, saying he could not serve his constituents while under detention.

He is scheduled to have a meeting with DAP chairman Karpal Singh at the Kamunting detention centre in Taiping on May 19, following which a final decision will be made on whether he will resign.

Manoharan, the legal adviser of the banned Hindu Rights Action Force, and four of its leaders were detained under the ISA on Dec 13, 2007.

He won the Kota Alam Shah seat with a 7,184 majority over Barisan Nasional's Ching Su Chen in the March 8 general election last year.

Muhyiddin said he had also spoken to MCA deputy president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek over his possible defection to the opposition.

"People like Dr Chua are seasoned politicians and I don't think he will easily defect," said Muhyiddin.

Dr Chua had publicly admitted to an online portal that he was being courted by Pakatan Rakyat.



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