I commend Gabriel for his or her truthfulness in Problem is, personal accounts came across as fact .

Make no mistake about it because, like Gabriel, I shall continue supporting the Barisan Nasional under Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad and his designated successor Abdullah Ahmad Badawi if not for no other reason than the fact that o­nly the ruling coalition holds the key to the continued political stability of Malaysia.

What I find particularly appalling, even disgusting is firstly that, with respect, Gabriel can talk about not belittling "the suffering of ISA detainees because [he] truly believe[s] most of them have suffered psychologically and physically" without even apologising for the dehumanising of these unfortunate souls who have had to undergo the indignity of being incarcerated for their political beliefs.

My question is whether Malaysians value the lives of their fellow Malaysians. If we cannot treat each other with decency and respect, can we realistically expect governments and peoples from other countries to treat us as differently?

It follows that if we Malaysians can treat each other with respect and with dignity, then we can demand that others treat us Malaysians the same way.

Secondly, it does not appear to dawn o­n Gabriel and the likes of him or her to understand that not o­nly the detainees incarcerated suffer, but those near and dear to them - including their friends - are subjected to the psychological trauma that can be avoided. It is about time that all Barisan Nasional leaders understood this: that the use of state powers to coerce, to detain and to incarcerate anyone always brings in its wake human suffering.

On the second matter - media freedom - as I have mentioned in my earlier response, let our journalists draw the line in the sand when it comes to media freedom. They are the generals in the field and they and they alone should be left to decide o­n how they deal with the problem of disseminating the information necessary to ensure an informed public in a working democracy that is Malaysia.

Of course, the reverse is true. If they are found to be irresponsible, they must face the consequences of their irresponsibility. But this alleged irresponsibility must be proved in an open court of law o­n the usual standard of proof required by the law. Every self-respecting journalist knows that there are enough laws in the country to ensure that they stick to the right side of the law in this country.

Any attempt to intimidate any journalist in the course of his or her o­nerous duty should be viewed in a dim light by any enlightened politician, however high they are in the political hierarchy, since all responsible journalists usually perform a "national" service in their news gathering and disseminating efforts.

On the third matter - the claims of Internal Securty Act detainee Saari Sungib - let us leave it to the Human Rights Commission to deal with the problem. It is at best premature for any of us to prejudge the veracity or otherwise of the issues that he has brought up.

In this connection, let me comment o­n the horror story

brought up by Sim Kwang Yang, the former MP for Bandar Kuching, regarding "one Abdul Rahman Hamzah, a former secretary to the ex-Chief Minister of Sarawak, and a Sarawak state assembly representative at o­ne time. The affidavit contained a horrendous account of extremely inhumane humiliating and cruel torture, which seemed implausible at first glance."

Let me just say that the horror story of torture is related in an affidavit. To me, an affidavit is a sworn statement. This statement, made under oath, comes from a former elected representative of the Barisan Nasional. Torture in any form from any quarter is illegal and should be rightly condemned by all right-thinking people.

That even a former elected representative of the Barisan Nasional can be subjected to the indignity of detention blights the ruling coalition's record o­n the human rights front. That no action was taken against the culprits responsible for his torture is regrettable in the extreme.

As I have said earlier, and at the risk of sounding like a Boy Scout, let me repeat my plea: Let every Malaysian learn to celebrate the transient life of each and every Malaysian. That is our surest guarantee that other peoples and other governments will treat all Malaysians with the respect and dignity that we rightly deserve.