Gerakan President Koh Tsu Koon said that the opposition had gone into a 'panic mode' when they heard Prime Minister Najib Razak's announcement on the abolition of the 1960 Internal Security Act.

NONE He added the opposition also went into a "denial mode" when they should have welcomed the decision, which Najib declared during his Merdeka Speech on Sep 15 night.

"First they welcomed it, then they realised their mistake and started to throw mud on it, saying it was not correct," Koh ( left ) told reporters at a press conference after the party's state delegates conference in Penang today.

During his Merdeka speech, Najib announced several changes to civil liberty laws including the ISA, lifted the three Declarations of Emergencies and ended the requirement for newspapers to renew their licenses annually.

Critics are however wary about two new laws which would eventually replace the ISA to addresss issues of terrorism and national security, which is supposed to be modelled on US or UK laws.

Neither set of laws are deemed particularly liberal despite the perception of liberal democracy in both countries.

But Koh, a federal minister, said it was most 'unfair' for the premier's critics to cast doubts and allegations over the two new laws which are yet to be tabled, when they are yet to know the content of the draft.

The former Penang Chief Minister added that even the 'mother of all democracies' like America has laws to deal with terrorism.

"Are you trying to say they are not a democracy, that they have draconian laws?" he queried, when told that the proposed two new laws may be more punitive than the ISA.

"Wait for the first draft before casting any doubts, there will be clear definitions," he assured, when asked how would terrorism be defined in the new Acts.

student leaders conference 310711 najib abdul razak Koh then said that the popular move by Najib ( left ) to repeal the ISA has found an echo in neighbouring Singapore, where the country is under pressure to follow in Malaysia's footsteps.

He described Najib's decision as a positive one and that the public should give credit where it is due instead of starting to doubt the two new Acts which will be tabled in Parliament to replace the ISA.

He said there are already versions of the proposed law, and when it is tabled, would be addressed openly, with proper consultation with the public.

 Giant steps forward

Meanwhile, Koh further praised Najib's proposed reforms as a "giant step forward for Malaysian democracy".

The other step, he added, was the Parliament Select Committee on electoral reforms to address the issue of free and fair polls.

He also expressed confidence that the Printing Presses and Publication Act would be further relaxed as it would be difficult to control the flow of information during the borderless internet era.

"But journalism must remain responsible. The Internet can sometimes be used to defame another (person).

"This is a new dimension where basically human relations will be governed by law," he added.

"There must be rule by law, not rule by men and worst still by one man. I am not saying this happens only in Penang but can happen everywhere," he stressed.

When asked if Najib's announcement would give BN the impetus to garner a two-thirds majority in Parliament come the next general elections, Koh denied that the reforms were an election ploy.

"Whether we can garner a two-thirds majority is not the reason for us to reform.We do what is right whether it is close to the polls or not...and Gerakan supports what is right" he said.

On former law minister and Kita president Zaid Ibrahim's apology to Najib for doubting that he would call for the archaic law to be repealed, Koh commended the former for his act.

However, Koh said he always had greater confidence in Najib than Zaid had, adding that "it was good enough that he apologised".