VIDEO | 2.38 min

It may be a thing of the past, yet police chief Khalid Abu Bakar gets almost wistful and starry-eyed at the thought of bringing back the Internal Security Act (ISA).

Asked of the suggestion by former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad to bring back the oft-criticised act, Khalid broke into a broad smile, saying: "I wish so. If Parliament thinks it’s suitable to bring back the ISA, why not? I wish."

"The Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 (Sosma) is enough, but what's wrong with also having the ISA?

"Sosma is good for some circumstances, but the ISA is good for others... As inspector-general of police, I hope (for the ISA's revival), I wish so. I welcome it very much," he noted at a press conference today.

He said that the duty of the police force is to ensure public safety, hence, any law which helps them do so is welcomed.

Asked what he would do if he had ISA on hand, he said: “Ensure the safety of the country... but it is not good to say what if or compare (with Sosma).”

He said that the efficacy of the Prevention of Crime Act (PCA) is also yet to be seen, as it has not yet been gazetted.

“I hope it can be gazetted soon,” he said of the amendments to the Act which was heavily opposed by opposition backbenchers due to provisions which allow detention without full trial.

On a separate matter, Khalid said that the police are now more prepared to face any attempt by “enemies” to breach the Malaysian border on the Sabah east coast.

“We should be ready and are ready following the (kidnapping) in Pom Pom Island . We are extra ready.

“We have rectified our weaknesses among others by placing 150 personnel in seven police stations in the Eastern Sabah Security Command (Esscom),” he said.

He added that the government has also approved the formation of a Pasukan Gerakan Am just for Esscom.