ISA FOCUS “Once, I was someone who could have become the prime minister or at least a senior minister. Now, not any more,” said Abdullah Ahmad, laughing and at the same time appearing to be serious.

NONE At one point the powerful political secretary to then prime minister Abdul Razak Hussein, Abdullah ( right ) was detained under the Internal Security Act for five years, accused of being a communist.

“In actual fact I was a victim of political conspiracy ,” he said.

But it is rather perplexing that Abdullah still continues to support the ISA.

“When Prime Minister Najib (Abdul Razak) said to me in the presence of some guests at a seminar recently that he would soon abolish the ISA and that I would be very happy. I just smiled,” he said in an interview last week.

Abdullah added he was against the abuse of ISA, just like in his case and that it could be overcome with some safeguards.

Some exceptions to the rule

“This is especially for political arrests, against rivals within the party or opposition leaders.

"There must be strong evidence to arrest politicians that must be presented to two independent panels comprising the High Court and Court of Appeal judges.

“If they agree with the evidence that the person is a threat to national security then by all means arrest him.

“However, exceptions can be made for terrorists, religious and racial subversives and fifth columnists,” he said.

Abdullah added that is looking forward to the ISA’s replacement with improved safeguards.

“However, I would support the PM if the ISA is replaced by up-to-date anti-terrorism laws and laws to govern race relations and other sensitive issues and against those who want to overthrow the government by force.

“After all, the mothers of democracy Britain and the United States have their own anti-terrorism and home security laws,” he concluded.

He remains a strong supporter of the ISA, but asserts that safeguards must be put in place to avoid abuse.

'Political conspiracy put me under ISA'

 

This interview is part of  Malaysiakini 's focus series on the Internal Security Act leading up to its repeal, expected to be tabled during the current sitting of Parliament.

Related stories

'Detention made me more of a hardliner'

'This is the communist's daughter!'

Torture, suicide and 47 days of hunger

Alleged terrorist Yazid doubts ISA will be repealed