The government will not apologise or compensate former ISA detainees, following the intended abolition of the draconian law that was enacted in 1960.

Responding to such calls, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Mohd Nazri Abdul Aziz said this is because the detentions had been imposed legally, though powers conferred on the police by the law, he said.

"For example, if theft is (no longer) considered (to be a crime), does it mean that the government would have to apology and compensate all thieves? Of course this cannot be done (since the) thefts were against the law (while it was in force).

"If the government has done something against the law, then it is a different scenario," he was quoted as saying in a Sin Chew Daily report today.

In an interview with the daily yesterday at his house at Kuala Kangsar, Perak, he disclosed that the upcoming cabinet meeting will discuss the issue of amnesty for those detained under the ISA or Emergency Ordinance who are not involved in terrorism.

"... the cabinet will ... seek the views of the police and attorney-general. The government may consider releasing (these detainees).

"I agree (with the idea of releasing) those not involved in terrorism or who are not threats to national security. The government will deal with them on a case-by-case basis. If there is sufficient evidence, the government will charge them in court, otherwise they will be released.”

azlan After Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak announced last Thursday that the government will abolish the ISA, former detainees and NGOs had called on the government to issue a public apology and fork out compensation for their sufferings.

"The government must apologise to all victims of ISA and pay gratuity equivalent to torture and sufferings of the victims and their families. (We also want) all those involved in torturing and abusing ISA detainees to face justice," the Abolish ISA Movement head Syed Ibrahim Syed Noh had said last Friday.

They also demanded that the government signs and ratifies international conventions on human rights relating to civil and political rights and the use of torture, and to reveal its master plan on how to combat terrorism without infringing on basic human rights.

In the same announcement , Najib revealed that two new laws will be enacted to counter terrorism.

According to Nazri, though, the new laws will still allow detention without trial.

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