About 50 members from both organisations and carrying banners gathered at Komtar's grounds to protest against any move to abolish the ISA. However, police broke up the 30-minute illegal gathering.
Malaysian Mirror
While there is mounting calls for the abolition of the Internal Security Act, some groups are also urging the government to stand its ground and defend the ISA.
Last week, a group of supporters of the so-called Movement for the Abolition of the ISA (GMI) had handed a petition to Istana Negara on the issue and had informed the Yang di Pertuan Agong that about 100,000 protestors will march to the palace on Aug 1 to submit a ‘people’s declaration’to the King condemning the Act.
GMI leader Syed Ibrahim Syed Noh had told reporters on July 23 that the protestors, comprising representatives of non-governmental organisations and political parties, will walk to the palace from the Sogo shopping mall and the nearby Masjid Jamek.
In the latest development, 18 bodies, headed by the Youth division of the Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall, have ganged up with the GMI to support the Aug 1 anti-ISA gathering.
Three demands relating to the ISA
In a joint-statement by the groups Wednesday, they said the upcoming gathering would make three demands: free all ISA detainees, abolish the ISA and close the Kamunting camp.
They pointed out that the ISA provided for the Home Minister to detain anyone considered a threat to national security for two years without trial, which is subject to indefinite extensions.
They added that for years human rights organisations, including the Malaysian Human Rights Commission (Suhakam) had called for the abolition of the 49-year-old Act but the government had continually said it will not.
The groups said Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak, when he took office, had said he would defend human rights and went on to free 13 detainees on April 3 and another 13 on May 8.
However, alleged the group, four new detentions had since been made. This meant that 12 more people are still being held, including three persons who had been detained for more than seven years, they added.
In defence of the ISA
In defence of the ISA, the Badan Bertindak Perpaduan Melayu (Malay Unity Action Body) said the law was needed to preserve peace and stability in the country.
"The ISA is still relevant in the long term. It only needs to be reviewed and amended to suit the current situation," its president Osman Abu Bakar told a press conference here Wednesday.
"The Act should be amended to facilitate investigation, which must be conducted immediately. No need to detain the alleged offender for a long time. If he's wrong bring him to court and let the court decide," he said.
Osman said those against the ISA should not hold gatherings to press for its abolishment as it would only threaten public order and security.
Protest against abolition move
In PENANG, two NGOs want the government to maintain the ISA as a mechanism to preserve peace in the country.
The Putra Association of Penang and Al-Ehsan Organisation of Malaysia, both formed about four years ago, feel the Act did not pose any threat to those who do not go against the law.
"The ISA has proven to curb certain quarters from causing chaos in the country," Putra Association of Penang founder Wan Balkis Wan Abdullah told reporters.
About 50 members from both organisations and carrying banners gathered at Komtar's grounds to protest against any move to abolish the ISA. However, police broke up the 30-minute illegal gathering.
Al Ehsan president Mohd Ridzwan Sulaiman who was present at the gathering, said the organisation would send a memorandum to the relevant authorities to urge them not to abolish the ISA. He said only those with a certain agenda or bad motive would want the ISA to be abolished.
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