All seems to be set for the debate on the Internal Security Act (ISA) between Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Nazri Abdul Aziz and parliamentary Opposition Leader Lim Kit Siang, which will now be held on July 26.

Kuan Perk Siong, deputy secretary of DAP Youth (Dapsy), the organisers, said there was no indication that the police would again reject a permit for the debate which was originally slated for yesterday.

Kuan said he filed a fresh application for a permit at the Dang Wangi district police headquarters today for the debate at 8.30pm, at the Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall (SCAH) in Kuala Lumpur.

He also met with Dang Wangi deputy police chief Mohd Khasni Mohd Noor.

"I was told that the Dang Wangi OCPD Hadi Ho Abdullah will be interviewing us this week to make a final decision on our application," said Kuan when contacted.

"There is no indication that the police will again reject a permit for the debate. I have confirmed that the Inspector General of Police (Mohd Bakri Omar, photo ) has given the green light for the event."

The police had previously refused to grant a permit for the debate on security grounds, forcing the parties concerned to file an appeal.

In an about-turn yesterday, police decided to allow the debate at the eleventh hour but the organisers could not proceed as Nazri, who was under the impression that the event had been called off, was unavailable. He has, however, agreed to the new date.

The debate is being organised after Nazri, who oversees parliamentary affairs, accepted an invitation from Lim during the last Parliament session to debate the security law and its impact.

Conditions of permit

Elaborating on his meeting with the police, Kuan said Mohd Khasni had verbally briefed him on various conditions that the organisers should comply with during the event.

"He told me that we were not allowed to hold a question-and-answer session with the audience after the debate and we also could not have microphones for use by the audience," Kuan said.

"Anyway, I am still awaiting for an official response from Hadi Ho pertaining to these conditions."

He said that, apart from the two conditions, standard rules imposed for such gatherings would also apply including a prohibition against distributing leaflets and use of loudspeakers.

Kuan added that, under the fresh permit application today, Nazri ( left ) and Lim ( right ) will be given 45 minutes each to speak, following by 15-20 minutes each to wind up. The debate will be moderated by Transparency International Malaysia president Tunku Abdul Aziz Ibrahim.

The ISA, originally drafted to battle the communist insurgency, has since earned notoriety because it has been used to crack down on political dissenters and activists.

Detainees can be held for a period of two years without trial on the order of the internal security minister. The order can then be extended indefinitely.