Two talks - on the Internal Security Act (ISA) and climate change respectively - were among activities held at the Central Market annexe in Kuala Lumpur over the weekend.

NONE This was in tandem with the ‘Arts for Grabs’ event, which featured the sale of a collection of art work including paintings, photos and sculptures, among other items.

Arts programme director Pang Khee Teik, who organised the event, said it was intended to give participating artists the opportunity to exhibit their talents with a minimum investment, or none at all.

The event has been held three times a year since 2007, but it will be held four times this year due to overwhelming support from the public. Film previews and dance performances were part of the programme.

The talk on the ISA was organised by PopIN, an Internet site which enables users to share heir thoughts and opinions.

About 40 members of the public attended the session which was divided into three sections and conducted in talk-show format.

In the first, three college students spoke about the number of people who have been detained to date, citing a figure of 10,672 from 1960-2009.

teresa kok and raja petra isa arrest Those arrested include Sin Chew Daily journalist Tan Hoon Cheng, Seputeh MP Teresa Kok and blogger Raja Petra Kamarudin, who were held briefly in 2008.

The students were of the view that there is no transparency in enforcing law and order, or freedom of expression in Malaysia, unlike in the US.

A Singapore national pointed out that the ISA is not discussed publicly in his country, although some people are more critical of the law today.

In the third section, the Bar Council’s constitutional law committee secretariat outlined the provisions of the ISA and said that amendments would be tabled when Parliament reconvenes on March 15.

Secretariat member Syahredzan Johan, responding to a question, said there is no perfect model of law to combat terrorism.

                                    

In the talk on the environment, conservation biologist Dr Myron Shekelle of the US Embassy in Kuala Lumpur discussed the Copenhagen summit on climate change, held last December.

He said Southeast Asia can borrow ‘green’ technology from the US to reduce carbon emissions.