More calls to abolish ISA
(The Star) – PETALING JAYA: Suhakam and PAS Youth want the Internal Security Act to be abolished.
Suhakam Commissioner Datuk N. Sivasubramaniam said the national human rights body had carried out a thorough study of the Act and had submitted its recommendations to the authorities.
“We have underlined the weak areas and the need for us to look at the weaknesses, make the necessary amendments and eventually have the Act repealed,” he said.
PAS Youth chief Nasrudin Hassan said the ISA should be abolished because it was no longer relevant.
“We have a good judicial system, we have an efficient police force and we have the MACC (Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission) and other agencies that can assist in gathering evidence in investigating any wrongdoings.
“We believe a person should not be held captive without trial.
“A person is innocent till proven guilty; those prosecuting should have evidence, and those accused should be given a chance to defend themselves, only then can justice be served,” he said.
They said this when was asked to comment on the call by former Prime Minister Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to abolish the controversial law.
Abdullah had said this in lauding his successor Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak’s move to review the ISA with the setting up of a Law Reform Committee.
In Kulim, Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin, however, said the youth wing preferred making an amendment to the ISA rather than a repeal because it was still relevant as a pre-emptive measure against security threats, including terrorism, reports Bernama.
He said it would be better to amend it so that there would not be any room for abuse.
“Any Act that will replace the ISA should have the same objective, that is to safeguard the country’s security. At the moment it is not proper to abolish the ISA,” he told reporters after opening the Kulim-Bandar Baharu Umno Youth and Puteri Umno meetings here yesterday.
Meanwhile Khairy called on Umno Youth members to be more focussed in their preparations for the next general election.
He said the tide of change, especially among the young, was sweeping in favour of Barisan Nasional as could be seen in the recent Manek Urai state by-election in Kelantan.
Khairy also sent condolences to the Indonesian people and the families of the victims of the bomb blasts in Jakarta which killed eight people and injured dozens of others on Friday.
