Amid mounting criticism against the authorities for invoking the Internal Security Act to detain three individuals, including a journalist, the police have explained the reason behind their action.

ismail omar police In a statement today, deputy inspector-general of police Ismail Omar said in recent weeks, there has been an escalation of racially insensitive, seditious and disparaging acts and remarks.

He said these brought about a state of racial unrest and religious tension in the country.

"After carefully assessing the situation, the police had no choice but to act swiftly to prevent the situation from getting out of control," he added.

Ismail explained that the decision to use the tough security law, which allows detention without trial, was based on intelligence and observation that certain acts by the individuals concerned were detrimental to the well-being of the nation.

internal security act section 73 subsection 1 isa 120908 "These acts if not curtailed would cause public disorder and be a threat to national security," he said.

The deputy police chief also noted that an arrest is made under the ISA only when the police strongly believe that these acts can pose a serious threat to public order.

"These are the grounds in which the police based their decision on. When there are reasonable grounds, the police will act accordingly under the provisions of Section 73(1) of the ISA," he said.

"An arrest under this section provides the police with the means to investigate and verify whether the intelligence received can be substantiated," he added.

More time needed to probe

On Friday, controversial blogger Raja Petra Kamaruddin, DAP MP and Selangor exco Teresa Kok as well as Sin Chew Daily journalist Tan Hoon Cheng were nabbed under the ISA.

tan hoon cheng Tan, who had penned the report highlighting the racial remarks made by Umno chieftain Ahmad Ismail, was released 18 hours later.

Home Minister Syed Hamid Albar later claimed that the journalist was arrested because her personal safety was under threat.

Tan's arrest had drawn flak from various quarters, including those within the ruling coalition Barisan Nasional.

Commenting on this, Ismail said the journalist was released as soon as the police had verified the intelligence reports and found no grounds to detain her further.

teresa kok and raja petra isa arrest However, he said for Raja Petra and Kok, the police need time to further investigate their alleged involvement in acts that can threaten national security.

"As soon as we can establish that we have no firm grounds to substantiate our beliefs that they pose a threat to national security, we will release those persons," he added.

On that note, Ismail said if the police during the course of the 60-day detention find that their beliefs are substantiated, then the case will be submitted to the minister with the recommendation that the person be detained under Section 8(1) of the ISA for a period of two years.

As far as the investigations are concerned, Ismail said the police will conduct it professionally and expeditiously as it would not be in the public interest for the police to act otherwise.

"The public is hereby advised not to take matters into their own hands except in accordance to the law. Let the police work within the system and laws of the country," he added.

Ismail warned that racial and religious unrest can be triggered over small matters and escalate into situations that are damaging and irreversible.

"We cannot allow the May 13, Kampung Medan and Kampung Rawa incidents to repeat and destroy the country. The police will have to take pre-emptive measures.

"As such, the public must allow the police to act within the parameters of the laws in this country, including the ISA, which is a swift mechanism for effective action," he said, adding that the police will not hesitate to take action against anyone who threatens national security.

View Ismail's full statement