News that blogger Raja Petra Kamarudin will be detained under the ISA for two years was not unexpected given his high-risk articles exposing corruption and the incriminating allegations linking Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak and his wife to a murder.

But whether or not locking the bold blogger away will help the government is questionable. No doubt we will see a new wave of protests that could further erode support for the government and confirm that a witch-hunt against cyber activists is indeed on.

Things will get worse before they get better is a popular saying and applies to RPK, who already faces charges of criminal defamation and sedition for implicating Najib and his wife in the murder of Mongolian translator Altantuya Shaaribuu. in a statutory declaration.

But to Malaysians who are sick of the administration's failings, RPK is a hero. His ISA detention will only add to his stature as a fearless patriot exposing sins of the state. Many will undoubtedly find the claim that RPK is a threat to national security absurd.

The unjust and immoral detention of RPK is a crime against humanity and not only is he a victim of human rights violations, but a victim of political persecution. His unfair detention is against everything decent that the country stands for. It is our duty to stand behind all victims of repression and I dare say RPK will not find himself without friends and well-wishers.

Once more the ISA has been used to destroy dissidents and those who are a thorn in the government's side. But it is unlikely that RPK's detention will stop Malaysians from mounting further attacks on the government. The country must not revert to the days of ‘Mahathirism’, at any cost!

The government has failed to justify RPK's jailing under the ISA. Tarnishing the image of the leadership and insulting the sanctity of Islam, two of the charges he is accused of are not yet proven in a proper court of law. It is abundantly clear that the ISA was used as a quick solution to bypass justice by those who fear him most and want him out of the way. RPK’s fearless articles are too startling even for a government who has promised reforms.

I honestly believe Dr Mahathir has done more to tarnish the image of the leadership than RPK, especially in his public attacks on his successor even while overseas. Yet he appears untouchable thus exposing the hypocrisy and double-standards of the government. It is easier to pick on and bully a single blogger than a formidable former prime minister.

Dr Mahathir has called the government "rotten" and said it functions like "a police state" and criticised not only Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi but also his deputy Najib by calling him a coward. And yet he remains unchastised and untouched.

The Hindraf 5 and now RPK will fulfill their role as political martyrs and for as long as they remain in prison, they will bear witness to the truth that Malaysia has a repressive administration that uses the ISA to pummel political dissidents and freedom of expression and that Pakatan Rakyat led by Anwar Ibrahim are justified in trying to quickly rid the nation of politicians who have no conscience and compassion for fellow Malaysians.

Surely the Umno government must know that every act of unwarranted repression against lawful dissenters eventually translates into lost votes at the next elections. It is our civic duty to remind the government that the rule of law is still supreme and the way to deal with those it claims break the laws of the country is through the courts, despite however little faith some Malaysians may have in their impartiality, and not through the draconian use of the ISA.

Malaysians like RPK who give themselves to improving their country should never feel they are alone or on a futile mission. They must be made aware that all right-thinking Malaysians are behind them. It is through the blood, sweat and tears of martyrs like them that causes are won and we know by using the ISA and persecuting the innocent in this way, the government has lost its moral authority and opens itself to more criticisms.

There can be no justice until the last ISA cell is empty and the law itself is cast into the rubbish bin and those who resort to its use are voted out of office so that they can hurt the innocent no more.

Meanwhile, we will stand alongside RPK’s wife Marina and their children and say loudly, long live RPK! May God grant him the strength to go through these trying times