Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Razali Ibrahim has hit out at those who blame Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak for allegedly having failed to fight what they described as a rise in violent crimes since the repeal of the Internal Security Act (ISA) and the Emergency Ordinance (EO) 1960.  

He said these same people had previously urged the government to repeal the ISA and the EO as they had claimed that these laws were outdated and irrelevant.

“They had claimed that we have to change or repeal these laws if we want to become a developed nation. When the ISA and the EO were repealed and there is a rise in crime, they now blame Datuk Seri Najib instead,” he said.

Razali, who is the MP for Muar, was speaking at the presentation of Aidilfitri goodies contributed by the Felda Foundation at an event organised by Media Prima in Sungai Balang Besar, near Muar, yesterday.

Felda chairperson Mohd Isa Abdul Samad, Media Prima chairperson Johan Jaafar and Sungai Balang state assemblyperson Zaiton Ismail were also present at the event.

Razali said the ISA and EO had helped to maintain racial harmony and mutual respect among the people over the last 56 years since independence.

- Bernama