The majority of the NGOs and other stakeholders reached an agreement today on support for amendments to the Internal Security Act, claimed the home minister.

hishammuddin hussein home ministry 140409 talking Hishammuddin Hussein told a news conference after the meeting that the majority of the stakeholders agreed to support the amendments and would like the focus to be on five major issues.

"The five issues are the period of detention; the rights and treatment of the detainees and their families; the minister's powers under the ISA; the perception that powers under the ISA are used in the political interest and detention without trial," he said.

He also said that all the relevant parties agreed that national safety must be paramount, especially with regard to militant and terrorist activities.

No repeal

As to the Bar Council's proposal to abolish the ISA and create a new act, Hishammuddin said: "I said that instead of abolishing (the ISA) and formulating a new act, it is better for us to look at the proposals. If they are able to meet their demands by way of the amendments, what's the issue?"

Hishammuddin said he was confident he would be able to table the amendment bill for first reading during the current sitting of the Dewan Rakyat.

The organisations which attended the meeting included the National Council of Women's Organisations, the National Civics Bureau, the Barisan Nasional (BN) Back Benchers Club and the Bar Council.

- Bernama