The threat posed by terrorist groups such as Islamic State is not a sandiwara (charade) by the government to resurrect the Internal Security Act, said Inspector-General of Police Khalid Abu Bakar today.

However, he lamented that certain MPs do not believe this.

"There are still some among us, including MPs, who do not believe the threat of IS.

"For them, IS is playacting by the government ( sandiwara kerajaan ). Thus, we urge MPs from both the opposition and ruling parties to attend a briefing by us (on IS).

"For those who purposely choose not to understand, I feel sorry for them," he told reporters after the 'Crime Matters' forum at the Royal Malaysian Police College in Kuala Lumpur.

He was rebutting DAP lawmaker Lim Lip Eng's accusation that the forum "subtly" suggested that the government bring back the ISA by citing the threats posed by IS.

Met by reporters after the forum, the Segambut MP said the police hinted for the security law which allowed for detention without trial to be revived.

"They (the police) say they have difficulty arresting terrorists due to lack of evidence. They say it's hard for them to tackle (terrorists) and it was easier in the past with the ISA,” he added.

'We have good laws'

Denying this, Khalid said the forum mainly focused on two issues which were the current trend of crimes and the threat of IS.

"We never talked about bringing back the ISA, no. We already have Poca, Pota, Sosma. We have good laws," he said.

1MDB critics Khairuddin Abu Hassan and Matthias Chang were charged under Section 124L of the Penal Code with sabotaging the nation, an offence that falls under Sosma procedures.

Sosma, unlike the Criminal Procedure Code, allows for detention without trial for up to 28 days and does not allow bail for those who are charged.

On Monday, former deputy prime minister Muhyiddin Yasin, former rural and regional development minister Shafie Apdal and several BN veterans including Dr Mahathir Mohamad, Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah, Sanusi Junid, Ong Tee Keat and Ling Liong Sik joined hands in condemning the abuse of Sosma.

Khalid reiterated that the government had not abused Sosma to silence dissidents.

"We use Sosma against those who committed crimes. Not government critics.

"It is up to them to evaluate (if the law is abused)," he said, declining to further comment as 'the case is in court now'.