Malaysia law minister resigns
Updated
A government minister in Malaysia has resigned in protest against the detention of three people over the weekend under the country's harsh Internal Security Act.
Our south east Asia correspondent, Karen Percy, reports the legal affairs minister, Zaid Ibrahim, tendered his resignation to Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi, after disagreeing with the use of the act against an anti-government blogger, a journalist, and an opposition politician.
The act allows the police to detain suspects indefinitely without trial.
It is supposed to target people who are a threat to national security.
But it has been abused for political purposes. Mr Zaid told local reporters at the weekend that the cases should have been handled in the court system.
Other members of the cabinet are believed to also be concerned, which could play into the hands of the opposition leader, Anwar Ibrahim, who is trying to convince government members to defect and join his People's Alliance.
