ISA CAN BE AMENDED, NOT ABOLISHED: MINISTER

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 1 (Bernama) -- Defence Minister Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said
it was impossible for the Internal Security Act (ISA) to be abolished but it
could be amended or its name to be changed to be more appropriate with current
times.

He said the country needed laws like the ISA, that could allow a person to
be questioned before a matter or case could be taken to court, as well as
needing other laws.

"Don't just look to our country only. See our neighbours or other countries.
They too have laws more or less like ours or more stricter.

"The act is meant to enure economic and political stability so that there
are no problems related to religion, race and culture and this is what the
government stresses," he told reporters here Saturday.

Commenting on the gatherings in the city Saturday by the Abolish the ISA
movement (GMI) and the Majlis Permuafakatan Ummah (Perwaris), together with
Pertubuhan Pribumi Perkasa Malaysia (Perkasa), which wanted the ISA to be
retained, Ahmad Zahid people should not be afraid of the ISA if they had not
done anything wrong.

"I speak from my experience in 1988. Although I was detained under the ISA I
accepted the situation. When I was questioned and investigated I was of the
opinion that the police did their job profesionally,' said Ahmad Zahid.

At the same function, Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department,
Ahmad Maslan, said the Opposition merely wanted an opportunity to have a
demonstration even when they knew that Prime Minister Najib Razak would review
the ISA.

"Actually they should give their views wisely, in writing, using facts if
they wanted to make any suggestions, not by troubling the people, till the roads
are jammed," he said.
-- BERNAMA