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Govt hopes to amend ISA, others in Oct

August 19, 2009

PUTRAJAYA, 19 Aug 2009: The government hopes to amend several acts, including the controversial Internal Security Act (ISA), described as outdated, at the next Parliament sitting in October, Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein said here today.

Among other acts to be amended include the Police Act, the Multimedia and Communications Act, the Restrictive Residence Ordinance and Public Security Act. 

The minister said this after a high-powered meeting attended by two other ministers, Attorney-General Tan Sri Gani Patail, Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Musa Hassan, and a host of representatives from other relevant government agencies, at the Home Ministry here.

The other two ministers were Information Communication and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim and Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz.


Hishammuddin (Courtesy of theSun)
Hishammuddin said the coordination committee on the ISA and media control among the three ministries would meet again next week to finetune their proposals.

“Then we would meet all the relevant people to explain the amendments. Hopefully, at the next Parliament sitting in October, we would table all the amendments to all the acts for first reading.

“If this is on schedule, then we would debate the amendments at the Parliament sitting after the next, which would be at the end of the year,” he said.

The committee, apart from wanting to reduce the 60-day detention period under the ISA, also wants acts amended to allow for public assembly at selected locations, without prior police permit.

“We also discussed how to increase cooperation between the authorities like the Multimedia Commission and the police to curb lies and allegations spread over the internet,” Hishammuddin added.

“While we respect the freedom of speech and expression, we must also safeguard the interest of the majority at large … we need to come up with a new way for this.”

He said the ISA would be amended in a way to safeguard the nation, taking into account national security and the threat of terrorism.

“We are also thinking of reducing the 60-day detention period. The public should know that this act had been overly politicised although it is relevant for national security,” he added.

Asked if the ISA would be renamed, Hishammuddin said the committee had yet to decide on that.

He also reiterated that the government would not filter or censor the internet, but ensure only credible information was spread through the new media. — Bernama

Filed Under: News

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Afif says

    August 19, 2009 at 8:32 pm

    Define credible? Definitely not anything you read from Utusan or NST.

  2. Azizi Khan says

    August 20, 2009 at 8:14 am

    “The public should know that this act had been overly politicised although it is relevant for national security.”

    Which part of *WE DO NOT WANT ISA* message left glaringly obvious at the Home Ministry website does Hishammuddin fail to understand?

    The people did not say we will accept the Act with modification. The people said NO MORE ISA.

    “The public should know that this act had been overly politicised although it is relevant for national security.”

    Relevant in what way? We have enough laws to detain and prosecute under the court of law. The only thing ISA does is it removes the right to be prosecuted under the court of law.

    Which brings us to the question – why would you NOT want to prosecute someone under the court of law if there is a criminal charge.

    The only answer that comes to mind is that, it is not the security of the community that is on the mind of the Home Ministry. That is why under the current ISA, you can point a finger at someone and say “sedition” and they can be locked away for the rest of their lives without being given a fair trial or the chance to tell their version of the story. All you need is vague allegations from some faceless person and you’re history.

    That is why ISA is wrong. And it is wrong no matter which way you paint it. And this is what Hishammuddin and his Home Ministry refuses to see.

    Which makes me wonder, if BN is a government by the people and for the people, and the people want ISA abolished, not reviewed – why review it?

    What makes Hishammuddin and the AG a better judge than the entire populace of Malaysia? (I base this on the 99% of the people who voted online on the Home Ministry’s own site saying they wanted to do away with the ISA).

  3. hope says

    August 21, 2009 at 12:54 am

    The picture of him is really telling of his predicament: saying one thing and meaning the other. He is in great doubt.

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