Friday, July 17, 2009

Pak Lah calls for repeal of ISA

Former premier Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has called on the government to consider abolishing the Internal Security Act (ISA) which allows for detention without trial.
He said the draconian security law - which has drawn negative views - should be replaced with a new legislation that allows for preventive detention and at the same time protects fundamental rights.
He said the ISA perhaps provides enormous powers and scope, which he felt could be too wide-ranging, in determining what constitutes threats to national security.
"As a former home minister, I had signed numerous ISA detention orders, and with the government reviewing the law now, I feel compelled to give my honest view on the matter," he explained.
However, Abdullah noted that Malaysia still needs a preventive detention mechanism to ensure the security of the nation is preserved.
The former premier said this in his speech at a special convocation ceremony where he was conferred an hononary PhD in Democracy at Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM) in Kedah.
"Whether we like it or not, the ISA has been stigmatised as a negative element to the agenda of strengthening democracy and renewal in the country.
"So, this calls for the government to be brave to discard the old and open a new chapter," he was quoting as saying by Bernama.
Abdullah believed that the government must be courageous to bring about such change (abolishing the ISA) as its commitment to the agenda of democratic renewal in the country.
"I believe this is the transformation that the people are expecting, as a preventive measure should not sacrifice fundamental human rights or to be misused for a political objective.
"Perhaps one solution is to limit the scope of preventive detention to certain threats only or to draw up a new Act specifically to prevent terrorist activities, hence reducing the chances of abuse of power for a political interest," he said.
On the conferment of the honorary PhD on him today, Abdullah said he viewed it as a recognition from the academia on the vision, approaches and methods, as well as the democratic philosophy of his administration.

tunku : why he did not abolish ISA when he had the power to do so? why he put BSA Tahir under ISA? it is just because he bring threat to his son.foot in mouth disease.i wonder whether nazri will call him a crook too, but no way a dog will disobey his master but in this case you never know as we are talking about his ex master.

5 comments:

Quantum Metal Consultant said...

Tanya Nazri samada paklah ni nak dimasukbakul sebagai crooks jugak ke atau tidak dengan 3 lagi crooks yang terdahulu.

Cukuplah paklah, duduk di dalam dulu dah merosakkan, duduk di luar jadilah 'supporter' seperti yang dijanjikan.

Duduk di dalam dulu tidor, dah keluar baru nak pura pura celik.

Anonymous said...

when he has the power he does NOTHING but sleep

then suddenly he wakes up and want to be a hero

but asking other people to do the dirty job

paklah is a shame to Malaysia

Tok Kemuning said...

Well out of more than 26 million of us we had given oppurtunity to one of us as our Premier BUT he decided to be a Premier for only "4 days". Regardless of what ever his reasons. What else could i say to my children about this kind of leader.

Anonymous said...

LOL

another example of flip flop, like 'batman' says as ex-pm (was he ever one? i wonder)he wanted to be a 'supporter' now he is making a fool of himself again. Just Shut the 'F' up and enjoy your retirement and do more charitable work, you are not in the league of MM to make comments or suggestion.

akb

Anonymous said...

It is not the ISA or preventive detention. It is the rules of engagement. The present rules which allow for detention or remand for a amximum of nine days as they call it is against all laws of ntural justice because the the arresting authority does not have to present a prima facie case before making application for preventive detention.

In all cases where there is no prima facie case as in the case of the late Mr. Teo investigation should only be allowed in the presence of a lawyer or third party. Ramlax