PAS MP on Najib's 'reforms': From bad to worse

Nov 23: Three recent incidents in violation of democratic rights, said Kuala Selangor member of parliament Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad (pic), have only confirmed that prime minister Najib Razak’s promised reforms were making things worse for the growth of democracy in the country. He cited the arrest of 13 individuals accused of terrorism under  the Internal Security Act in Sabah, the last minute cancellation of a talk programme at the International Islamic University involving reformist deputy Higher Education minister Saifuddin Abdullah, and the latest involving the Selangor Islamic Religious Council, which disallowed outspoken academic Dr Abdul Aziz Bari from presenting a paper at its Selangor International Islamic University College (KUIS).Dzulkefly said the incidents have run contrary to Najib’s Malaysia Day speech promising liberalisation of political freedom in the country. “It is now clear that all the pledges by Najib are non-committal and hot air. Everything is happening the opposite way," said the PAS Central Committee member, who added that IIU’s cancellation of its event was "most insulting to students' intellectual freedom". Earlier, Saifuddin expressed shock over the programme's sudden cancellation, which he said was a first encountered by him. Meanwhile, Aziz, who invited police action over his statement urging the Selangor Sultan not to intervene in the incident involving the Selangor Islamic Affairs Department (JAIS) and Damansara Utama Methodist Church (DUMC), was supposed to present a paper tomorrow at KUIS, a college owned by MAIS. However, his participation was withdrawn by MAIS, citing directive from the palace. Dzulkefly said Najib’s reforms promise was to "pull wool over the people's eyes", by enacting new and more draconian acts in place of outgoing acts such as the ISA and Police Act. “It just proves that Najib is lying through his teeth when he said ISA would be abolished,” he added.