New PM Najib waves his magic wand...

and everything seems rosy again...that is, if we were to believe the spin by mainstream media.

I could not believe my ears when I heard Najib announced the release of 13 ISA detainees and the repeal of the ban on Suara Keadilan and Harakah. But then I thought it sounded familiar and asked my wife if Dr. Mahathir did the same ie. released some ISA detainees when he first took control. Well, I got the confirmation here:

From Anilnetto.com:
Let us not forget that this is a small victory for the Malaysian public, many of whom over the last ten years have been pressuring for meaningful democratic reforms, campaigning for the release of all ISA detainees and calling for an outright repeal of the ISA.
But be cautious: this is exactly the way Mahathir started when he came into power in 1981. He released a whole bunch of ISA detainees. And then came Operasi Lalang in 1987.
The first thing that comes to mind now is: is all this a political ploy aimed at the three by-elections? And then tighten the screws later? Does that mean the remaining ISA detainees have to wait for a new PM before they can have a better hope of being released?

Though we share the joys of those families of ISA detainees to be released, we should question why were they arbitrarily detained in the first place.

Sometimes, the left hand does not know what the right hand is doing: soon after he had announced the cancellation of the ban, the printing company was being raided.

The Najib administration has not got off to a bright, democratic start.
Just 90 minutes after Najib was sworn in as the PM, KDN officers raided the firm that prints the PKR newspaper, Suara Keadilan, its editor Zunar told me.
He said the officers left the firm in Shah Alam empty-handed as the newspapers had already been sent out.
The permit for Suara Keadilan was recently suspended for three months, but PKR was planning to come up with a one-off publication, Suara Keamanan, which doesn’t require a permit.

According to tongue-in-cheek, 'An updated guide to new Malaysian terms'

ISA: Ikut Suka Aku. The “Aku” refers to whoever’s in power. (So there is no guarantee that the same persons can remain free.)

Other 'truisms' include:
Traitor: Anyone who questions Umno way of doing things.
Derhaka: a term to describe criticism of the sultans, when anyone other than Umno does it.

And people are still waiting for Najib's explanation for this new term:
To do a Bala: refers to an act where you make two contradicting statutory declarations, and then disappear.

Strange things continue to happen, according to Segambut MP, Lim Lip Eng:
The two photos were taken yesterday at somewhere along Jalan Kuala Sepetang, Bukit Gantang, Perak. Why on earth a DBKL passenger van was doing in Bukit Gantang especially during the by-election? It was parked in front of a building where BN/Umno posters and banners almost covered the building frontage. Five to six people tried to get in the van when the photos were taken. I suppose they were there to help either the Election Commission or the police. Nevertheless, I will get KL city mayor to answer that.

It is obvious that Najib's magnanimity had a lot to do with his sense of relief that he was finally sworn in as PM without a hitch, and in his own word, 'humility' which he felt after assuming the heavy responsibilities of being Prime Minister. But without a doubt, it had all to do with the 3 by-elections which he has to ensure that BN win in all.

I believe the voters in the coming elections are not going to be swayed by insincere offers which come with each election. Take what is offered and vote according to your conscience.