Perkasa today proposed that a high-powered committee be formed to decide on the detention without trial of individuals believed to be threats to national security.

perkasa burn the star 140811 ibrahim ali Its president, Ibrahim Ali, said with the abolition of the Internal Security Act (ISA), a mechanism must be put in place that would enable swift decisions to be made on detention orders.

“Going through the court process will take a long time. It will be better to have a committee to decide there and then whether or not an individual should be detained,” he said at a press conference after presenting a memorandum on security reforms to Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein.

Ibrahim said the committee should include the inspector-general of police, attorney-general and eminent personalities and representatives from interest groups such as Suhakam.

The former deputy minister in the prime minister's department explained that such a committee would also temper the powers granted to the home minister under the two new laws proposed to replace the ISA, besides speeding up the processing of cases.

azlan "Whether or not the committee will include the home minister is up to them. The point is, the minister must only make decisions (on detention without trial) based on the committee's decisions," he said.

Ibrahim argued that it was important to have the IGP on the committee, as the police were the best reference in the area of homeland security.

"I don't think even the prime minister is fully well-versed on issues of national security. Perkasa is not, and even less the opposition. It is the police who know best how to deal with homeland security.

"This is why security should be handed over to the police. So we need to give the police effective instruments so that they can act to protect security when needed."

Don't 'exploit' security issues

Ibrahim also warned political parties against exploiting security issues to gain mileage, stressing that national security must stand above all other considerations.

"... Perkasa is of the view that security cannot be compromised. Security must override human rights, freedom of speech and freedom of assembly.

"We urge the public not to be too emotional over basic (human) rights. If there is no security, there are no basic rights, no democracy, no elections... there would then be a repeat of May 13. Do we want that?" he asked, referring to the May 13, 1969, racial riots in Kuala Lumpur.

NONE Meanwhile, Hishammuddin ( right ) said his meeting with Perkasa today was part of the government's engagement with interest groups to explain the law reforms recently announced by Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak.

He said he gave his assurance to Perkasa that whatever decision the government made would not affect security, nor affect the position of the country.

"We've been engaging with the Bar Council when looking at the amendments, so there's nothing peculiar about meeting Perkasa.

"We felt it is important that Perkasa understands where we are going forward, our intent and what we are going for (with the amendments)," Hishammuddin added.

VIDEO|6.47 mins

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