Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein told Parliament today that the government had no intention of abolishing the Internal Security Act.

hishammuddin hussein home ministry 140409 talking "ISA has to be retained because of its effectiveness in preventing any actions or activities which are subversive or those which can threaten the country's security and public order," he added.

He also said that among matters looked into by the technical committee on the ISA law revision included on the powers of the minister, detention period and rights of detainees.

Meanwhile, he said that until Sept 30, only nine people were being detained under the ISA, with six of them involved in militant activities and terrorism, and the remaining for involvement in falsifying of documents.

Comparison study

He also said that comparison with similar law enforced in other countries was made by the technical committee on law revision in reviewing provisions in the ISA.

He said the countries were the United States of America (USA Patriot Act 2001 & Homeland Security Act 2002), Australia (Terrorism Act 2005), United Kingdom (Terrorism Act 2000) and Singapore (Internal Security Act 1963).

Comparisons were also made with the laws enforced in Tanzania (Tanganyika Preventive Detention 1962), Bangladesh (Special Powers Act 1974), Ghana (Preventive Detention Act 1958), Timor-Leste (Internal Security Law 2003), Israel (Emergency Powers [Detention] Law) and Sri Lanka (Prevention of Terrorism Act 1982).

He said this in a written answer to a question by Karpal Singh (DAP-Bukit Gelugor) in Parliament today.

Karpal wanted to know whether the government was prepared to abolish the ISA and other laws pertaining to detention without trial.

- Bernama