The European Union (EU) has welcomed Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak’s announcement on the abolition of the Internal Security Act (ISA) and the review of other preventive laws.

Head of the EU Delegation to Malaysia Vincent Piket said the prime minister’s decision showed a determination to move forward with Malaysia’s political transformation.

Together with the electoral reform process, these reforms would strengthen Malaysia’s democratic institutions, he said in a statement.

“We very much look forward to learning more about the new laws. The EU will be open to sharing its experience in security legislation with Malaysia,” said Piket.   

Yesterday, United States’ Ambassador to Malaysia Paul W Jones hailed the move and pledged that Washington was willing to assist Malaysia in drafting new laws to replace the ISA.  

    

In his ‘Malaysia Day’ address last Thursday, Najib announced the decision to lift Emergency Proclamations, abolish the ISA and replace the annually renewable yearly printing licence with a one-time licence.

Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein was reported as saying that the new laws to replace the ISA would be modeled after the Patriot Act in the US, the Anti-Terrorism Act in Britain and Australia’s laws on terrorism.

- Bernama

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