With all due respect to Mohd Fauzi's letter 'ISA's raison d'etre' (July 9), I completely disagree with him. The ISA is not supposed to be used "to prevent certain events from happening" as he puts it.

ISA was introduced to curb the activities of the communist during their armed struggle against government. As such, the government may have, at that time, had reason to detain someone under the ISA.

However, today it is used blatantly for political and personal reasons and even revenge, which is not only unjustifiable but is a disgrace to our country. Malaysia is one of the few countries in the world besides Israel who still uses similar laws to keep her 'citizens' in check.

The ISA is not a preventive measure. Ensuring social justice among Malaysians is a preventive measure. So is eradicating poverty, ensuring equal education for those who deserve it, wiping out cronyism and money politics, listening to the people's needs and concerns, not stamping out small entrepreneurs to give way for big companies controlled by the ruling party, and ensuring better distribution of wealth and sustainable development.

Detaining someone who calls for justice, without trial or a proper charge, is not a preventive measure but a provocative one. The ISA, more than anything else, is a threat to national security.

I also disagree with the writer in that the police are not the sole authority responsible for the security of the nation. What else are the army, navy and the air force for? The police do not ensure the security of the nation. They exist to ensure that the law is respected and enforced. But the law should be interpreted only by an independent judiciary. Otherwise, who will guard us from the likes of the former IGP, Rahim Noor?

The ISA as it stands has too many potential for misuse. It is an out-of-date law of bygone years, which has and still is being used against our most precious commodity, our youths and thinking citizens of Malaysia.

It is time we get rid of this law, unceremoniously.