Former police inspector general Abdul Rahim Mohd Noor today said that a law similar to the repealed Internal Security Act should be enacted to ensure that curb militant activities in Malaysia.

He said that the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act (Sosma), which replaced the ISA, is insufficient to do the job.

“I feel that (ISA) can deal with certain things. This law called Sosma is weak and has its drawbacks. We need not (reintroduce) the ISA but something like it should be enacted to detain and curb militants.

“Before, we managed to wipe out (militant group) Jemaah Islamiah (JI) and (deviationist sect) al-Aqram using this law (the ISA),” he said.

Rahim (left) said this while asked to comment on the arrest of 11 suspected militants as announced by police chief Khalid Abu Bakar on Saturday.

Khalid yesterday announced that the individuals were nabbed for trying to recruit Malaysians to become suicide bombers overseas.

He also said that the 11 were involved in activities which “threatened national and public safety”.

Abdul Rahim was met on the sidelines of the meeting of NGO coalition National Unity Front (NUF) in Kuala Lumpur.

Memo on Muslim view of unity

NUF chairperson Abdul Hamid Mohammad announced that it will submit a memorandum to the Agong and prime minister on unity efforts in Malaysia, from the perspective of the Muslim community.

The NUF will hold town hall meetings in Johor, the Federal Territories, Kedah, Terengganu and Sabah to obtain input for the memorandum.

He said that the memorandum will be presented at a convention before it is submitted to the Ruler and prime minister.

“Right now there are people who dare to challenge the Federal Constitution (so) we are preparing this memorandum to present the view of Muslim bumiputera in a bid to maintain (national) unity,” he told reporters.

Also at the press conference was Malay rights pressure group Perkasa president Ibrahim Ali (right) said that NUF will also form five committees to discuss the Constitution, security, politics, Islam, economy and education to be presented at the convention.

He said that 300 letters will been sent to NGOs nationwide by June 15 to invite them to participate.

Also present at the event is former Armed Forces Chief Mohd Ghazali Mohd Seth.

NUF is made up of 55 NGOs and was formed on Mar 14.