KUALA LUMPUR, 5 May 2009: Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein has asked legal advisors in all departments and agencies under his ministry to study the needs and objectives of amending acts to suit the current situation.
He said the studies included the Internal Security Act (ISA) as proposed by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak in his maiden speech after assuming the premiership on 3 April so that acts which were considered controversial such as the ISA could be reviewed.
The decision to study all the existing acts under the departments and agencies under the ministry was made at a meeting last month, he told reporters after visiting the Civil Defence Department Headquarters, here today.
“Our focus is on the ISA. It is time for us to revamp because some of the acts have been enforced for too long and the objectives have changed,” he pointed out.
However, laws involving security, racial interests, tolerance and relations as well as the monarchy must be looked at seriously and could not be compromised, he added. — Bernama
Eric says
The “decision to study all the existing acts under the departments and agencies”.
From such a generic phrase with no scope, no objective and no dateline, we all know what will happen: nothing at all.
I have an actual slogan for what we see shaping as Najib’s premiership: “empty promises, indecision and police state”. Sounds truer than the original, right?
Steven says
Will there be a review? Yes, there will!
Will the Act be amended? Most probably not. Even if it is amended, the absolute power will remain with the Executive.
Will the Act be axed? No, it will never be axed.
beeyong says
The previous PM also mentioned they will study and amend. Now the new PM mentioned the same. What the rakyat want is amend now not study now. Anyway you have until GE13 to amend, after that you are finished.