One of the more interesting comments by Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Syed Jaafar Albar in BBC's Hardtalk was that the government is prepared fully to cooperate with the United Nations and United States in the war against terrorism, including freezing funds belonging to terrorist operatives.

He said that the government, however, would only act based on "concrete" evidence, and not on mere allegations.

Syed Hamid also said that the government would charge any person who plans subversive action against the government, with the intention to topple the government illegitimately. He also tried hard to argue that Malaysia is a democratic country because even the opposition (ie PAS) won seats in Parliament and the state assemblies.

Of course, any responsible government on this planet is bounded to protect the security of its citizens. Freezing terrorists' account and assets will definitely halt terrorists from further destroying the peace we all enjoy.

But for those who believe in fair trial and justice, detaining people without concrete evidence is also a form of terrorism. That is why we have the term "white terrorism', which is used to describe terrorism practised by the state against its innocent citizens.

The minister said that the government would only act based on evidence. This is to portray that the Malaysian government is more 'humanitarian' than other governments (read: US), especially in the war against terrorism.

If the government's action is really based on evidence, they don't have to be going around locking up people without trial. If the government has the evidence, it should charge them in the court, instead of putting them under ISA.

Perhaps Syed Hamid too does not understand the meaning of democracy. Democracy is not just about going to the ballot box, and it is not only about the ability of the opposition to win in the elections. It is about freedom in movement, citizens' right to organise, free speech and open gatherings.