Malay NGO Pertubuhan Pribumi Perkasa Malaysia (Perkasa) has called for the scope and function of the Internal Security Act (ISA) to be enlarged to protect Malay-Muslim rights.

NONE The group submitted a six-page memorandum to Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein at his office in Putrajaya today, outlining several areas for amendment in line with the ongoing review of the tough security law.

Perkasa president and Pasir Mas MP Ibrahim Ali said “actions should not be focused solely on terrorism, but needs to include those that threaten the national security”.

He suggested that the law be widened to apply to those who:

  • question the status of Islam as the official religion, as stipulated under the federal constitution, and who attempt to treat Islam on equal basis with other religions in the country;
  • organise resistance or contempt against the King and against the Malay Rulers;
  • question Bahasa Malaysia as the national language and who attempt to place other languages on equal footing with it;
  • question the special privileges of the Malays and bumiputera of Sabah and Sarawak; and
  • excite racial sentiment by way of writing, statement or speech so as to cause conflict among Malaysia’s ethnic groups.
He also said the ISA should be applied to any individual accused of corruption involving a large sum of money, which may result in extreme anger in society.

ibrahim ali Ibrahim, who himself had been held twice under the ISA, proposed the establishment of an Internal Security Council to discuss any detention order issued by the minister before it is enforced.

This, he said, would ensure that the minister is not accused of abusing his power in terms of taking action against any member of the opposition party.

The council, said Ibrahim, should be headed by the attorney-general, while the inspector-general of police or his representative should be among the members.

“The council should also have two members of the Dewan Negara and a member of Human Rights Commission,” he said.

“Whatever decision is made under the security law will be done in a more transparent way to ensure stability.”

Review process on target

Hishammuddin, who was receptive to the views, said he would put forward the suggestions by Perkasa and other stakeholders during the review process.

parliament and anti isa internal security act “We hope we can gather all the views before the October sitting (of Parliament). Meeting Perkasa today has been a good start,” he said.

Although opposition politicians, civil society groups and the Bar Council have said they want the ISA abolished, Hishammuddin said it would be “quicker” to amend it.

“If we abolish it, we would need to introduce a new law. Whether you amend the law or you abolish it, it is the same thing. But I was told it is quicker to amend than to abolish it,” he said.

He also stressed that the US and the United Kingdom have a Terrorism Act “although they uphold civil liberties and human rights”.

“We have to look at every aspect, rather than (respond to) pure emotional political rhetoric that (calls for the) ISA to be abolished,” he added.