This is the first time in 13 years since DAP National Deputy Chairman Karpal Singh succeeded in his habeas corpus application in 1988 to be set at liberty after the Operation Lalang mass arrests under the ISA (although he was subsequently re-arrested under the ISA) that political leaders have succeeded in moving the court to restore their personal liberties.
It is clear that the police had decided on the immediate re-arrest of Gobalakrishnan and Ghani after they were set free at the Shah Alam High Court at 4 p.m. today, as the court premises were ringed by two dozen FRU police in full battle gear together with trucks and a water cannon.
Hishamudin’s granting of the application by the counsel for both Keadilan leaders that there should not be any police re-arrest within 24 hours to allow them to be with their families who were still on the way from Penang and Alor Setar was another great judicial precedent, leading to the immediate withdrawal of all police presence from the court premises.
DAP calls on the Inspector-General of Police, Tan Sri Norian Mai and the Attorney-General, Datuk Ainum Saad to give serious study and respect to the landmark judgement by Justice Hishamudin by ensuring that there would be no re-arrest of Gobalakrishnan and Ghani under the Internal Security Act after 4 p.m. tomorrow - especially as the judge has rightly questioned the relevance of the Internal Security Act to the present-day situation of Malaysia.
(30/5/2001)