The Malaysian Bar Council has urged the government not to use the Patriot Act of the United States as an example in drafting two new acts following the repeal of the Internal Security Act.

Its president Lim Chee Wee said the Patriot Act was extreme because it violated human rights, such as detention without trial, and was used against individuals or organisations suspected to have connections with terrorists.

He said the Anti-Terrorism Act 2001 of Canada and the Anti-Terrorism Act 2005 of Australia were the proper ones to be used as guides, because both nations were members of the Commonwealth, besides having the appropriate provisions to protect human rights.

The Canadian law had a specific period of implementation and would be abolished when it was no longer relevant, to be replaced with a law that was suitable for the new scenario,” he told Bernama in Kuala Lumpur today.

In another development, he said Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak was scheduled to open the Malaysian International Law Conference on Sept 26-28, 2012 at the Kuala Lumpur International Convention Centre, organised by the Bar Council.

- Bernama