In its effort to review the Internal Security Act (ISA), the government is carrying out a comparative study of the preventive laws in 18 countries including the United States, Deputy Home Minister Abu Seman Yusop said today.

abu seman yusop He said the other countries were Singapore, Australia, Tanzania, Brunei, India, the United Kingdom, Thailand, Bangladesh, Ireland, Ghana, Uganda, Timor Leste, South Korea, Macau, Bahrain and Sri Lanka.

The preventive laws of the United States being looked at were the Patriot Act 2001 and the Homeland Security Act 2002, he told reporters at his office here.

Abu Seman said the ISA would be amended in accordance with the country's model.

Invasion threat

He also said that non-governmental organisations, academicians and the public with whom the ministry had held discussions did not want the ISA to be repealed.

parliament and anti isa internal security act "They want the ISA to be retained to ensure security of the nation and people but have asked for it to be amended for improvement in terms of safeguarding human rights and transparency," he said.

He said discussions would continue to be held until the amendment bill was tabled in parliament this month.

On the threat by the Benteng Demokrasi Rakyat (Bendera) group of Indonesia to invade Malaysia today armed with bamboo spears, Abu Seman said the security forces were on the alert to face any eventuality.

Bendera was reported to be getting ready to invade Malaysia to "avenge" all alleged wrongs committed against Indonesia.

- Bernama