Credit should be given to Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein for the abolition of Restricted Residence Act 1933 (RRA), the Home Ministry said today.

"The abolition is a continuity of Hishammuddin's decision in 2009 instructing a study on laws applied by the ministry," its ministry's secretary-general Mahmood Adam said in a statement.

The Act was abolished yesterday in a Bill tabled by the Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak in Parliament, as part of law reform moves he announced on Sept 15, the eve of Malaysia Day.

Although many see Najib's announcement as an outcome of public pressure and a move to prop up support for the BN before the next general election, expected to be called soon, the premier has been stressing that the opposition should not take credit for it.

Najib argued that he had stated his the intention to review the laws when taking over as prime minister two years ago.

NONE Mahmood ( left ) said the abolition of the RRA was in line with the study initiated by Hishammuddin, which found the law to be no longer suitable and relevant in the current national security landscape, having been overtaken by time and developments in technology.

"The current borderless global situation has eliminated physical limitations, allowing restricted individuals to communicate with their peers in crime through various latest telecommunication channels," he said.

Following the abolition, Mahmood pointed out, various actions were being carried out to strengthen all relevant divisions, agencies and units in the ministry.

"At the same time, the Home Ministry is also taking all necessary steps to prepare for the implementation of new Bills to replace the Emergency Ordinance (Public Order and Prevention of Crime) 1969 as well as Internal Security Act 1960," he said.

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