Many Malaysians, especially civil society groups and political parties, have been calling on the Umno-dominated federal government to banish once for all the draconian Internal Security Act.

But one Penang-based organisation wants the tough security law to stay forever to ‘maintain law and order.'

NONEPenang Malays Association (Pemenang) president Yussof Latiff insists that the ISA was an important preventive legislature to stop any untoward incidents that could disrupt the country's peace and harmony.

"Without this law, the country could face uncertainties and even political chaos.

"We need it forever to maintain law and order.

"The government needs the law to cripple from the outset any threat to the national security and public order," he stressed.

He even dismissed suggestions to review ISA and setting up of a special court to hear applications by detainees to be released from the ISA, saying that "the proposals were all pointless."

He said ISA was imperative to protect the rights, safety and interests of the majority Malaysians who love peace, calm and harmony against minority few, who he describes as ‘trouble-makers'.

'Minority few thwarting progress'

He criticised the so-called "minority few" for disrupting peace, destabilising the country's political structure and thwarting socio-economic growth by holding a series of street protests and demonstrations in a show of extremism.

"We don't need protests and demonstrations to vent our dissatisfaction against anyone or anything.

NONE"There are many diplomatic channels to voice our disapprovals, views and opinions.

"These protestors and demonstrators are merely trouble-makers, who failed to give any consideration to others.

"These trouble-makers only cause congestion, disrupt businesses and threaten the country's stability," Yussof, a former Jelutong Umno division chairperson, told Malaysiakini today.

He said the government was right to use the ISA on these trouble-makers to avert threats to the national security.

Pointing out that no government in the world would tolerate such threats, he said the ISA had been instrumental in hindering civil unrest and maintaining peace and harmony that all Malaysians cherished these years.

He proposed that civil societies and politicians utilise diplomatic channels such as the Parliament, courts and the Malaysian Human Rights Commission (Suhakam) instead to air their grievances, views, opinions and complaints.

He said Malaysians can always demand that the government reforms Parliament, the judiciary and Suhakam if they felt these forums were not functioning accordingly.

Moreover, he said the public can always vent their anger and frustrations against the government, if any, via the ballot box.

"Malaysia practices democracy and we have elections.

"People can show their dissatisfaction with their votes, not street protests and demonstrations.

"The last general election was a testimony to what people can do," he said, justifying his call on the government to preserve ISA.

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