Former Internal Security Act (ISA) detainee Hishamuddin Rais stated at a gathering in Penang last night that no one should turn the word ''secular'' into one as fearful and intimidating as the ISA.

"For me, I am not intimidated to say that I am a secular human being. Secular does not mean I do not believe in God. Secular means the utilisation of the human mind for the betterment of civilisation," he told the 1,000-odd crowd at the dinner organised by Keadilan.

Hishamuddin also proposed at the function, held in honour of the ISA 6 who were released recently, that Malaysians struggle for a democratic and secular state.

He called upon intellectuals, working class citizens, artists, labourers and all to think seriously about building a truly democratic and secular nation - "a Malaysia that we can all be proud of".