The leader of Gerakan, a member of the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition, today defended the party's support for the controversial Internal Security Act - which allows for detention without trial.

"Short of any review, Gerakan supports the ISA," said party chief Dr Lim Keng Yaik

He clarified that those Gerakan leaders who have spoken out against the security law do not represent the views of the party.

Gerakan's central commitee member Dr Toh Kin Woon is among those who has unfailingly condemned the use of ISA as a violation of human rights.

Toh is also Penang's executive councillor in charge of the state's economic planning, education and human resource development.

According to the Gerakan chief, who is also the primary industries minister, Malaysians are grateful that the law was in place to protect them.

"The ISA is used to avoid street riots, which if left uncontrolled can easily turn into confrontations," he said.

He added that the law was also used against militant groups that would not hesitate to employ violence to topple the government, and those who could cause racial disturbances in a multi-ethnic country like Malaysia.

Lim stressed that the ISA was not meant to serve any political parties, and Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad has never use the controversial law for his own political ends.

Since April this year, the government has invoked the ISA to detain reformasi leaders as well as a number of those said to be members of a militant group, Kumpulan Mujahidin Malaysia, for allegedly seeking to violently overthrow the government.

'Religious extremism'

Meanwhile, the Gerakan leader said that "religious extremism" will be among several issues to be discussed at the party's annual national delegates conference beginning tomorrow.

Describing the conference as likely to be a "tame affair", he said the meeting will also discuss the challenges facing the party, the economic downturn and the party's ties with BN component parties.

However, Lim, who has indicated that he would retire from politics soon, said the party's succession issue would not be discussed at the conference.

He explained the matter had been settled 10 years ago.

Lim said that his deputy for 13 years, Kerk Choo Ting, followed by vice-president Dr Koh Tsu Koon and secretary-general Chia Kwang Chye are firmly in place to take over the party leadership.

Asked why another party vice-president, S Vijayaratnam, was not named as one of his successors, the Gerakan chief said that it was not practical to do so as party members who are mostly Chinese were "not ready" to accept him as their leader.

"I wish we can elect an Indian or a Malay as president. I wish the party can elect them. But can they do so under present circumstances?" Lim asked.

Ethnic prejudice

He explained that Malaysians are not prepared to accept a leader of a different ethnicity because they still have their prejudices.

Lim, however, pointed out that race relations in the country have improved since 1969, when racial riots broke out in Kuala Lumpur.

Since it was not easy to achieve racial harmony, he said he often told other Gerakan leaders to be grateful for the little progress that they made towards the realisation of a Bangsa Malaysia.

Lim nevertheless took the opportunity to correct some misconception that Gerakan is a "Chinese-based party" as the notion appeared to discourage other races from joining the party.

"We're a Malaysian party where most of our members are of ethnic Chinese origin. But, that doesn't stop us from pursuing non-racial politics," he said.

"We are not Umno as Umno is, not MCA as MCA is, and not MIC as MIC is. That's why we will be successful," he added.