Zaid: ISA unacceptable

PETALING JAYA (April 28, 2008): Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Zaid Ibrahim says he finds the Internal Security Act (ISA), which has been regarded as draconian by the Opposition and the legal fraternity, unacceptable.

"I am against any unjust and harsh law, and ISA and OSA (Official Secrets Act) are unacceptable to me," the de facto law minister said of his stand on the two Acts during an interview with Nanyang Siang Pau.

"In fact, I have stated my stand (on these laws) in my books," he said.

ISA, a preventive detention law, was enacted on Aug 1, 1960, to replace the Emergency Regulations Ordinance 1948 that was meant to curb communist activities. It was amended in 1972.

Any person may be detained by the police under ISA for up to 60 days without trial for an act which allegedly prejudices the security of the country or any part thereof.

After 60 days, one may be further detained for a period of two years each, to be approved by the Home Minister, thus providing indefinite detention without trial.

Last Saturday (April 26), Home Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar said preventive laws, such as the ISA, will not be abolished as they were needed for the purpose of maintaining public order.

He said countries such as the United States and the United Kingdom too have introduced such preventive laws.

"It (ISA) is not for the purpose of carrying out injustice but to protect the public's right to live in comfort without fearing for their lives," Syed Hamid said in response to a claim by PKR de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim that Pakatan Rakyat (PR) would abolish preventive laws should they rule the country.

On Islamic laws, Zaid stressed all laws should be able to address the dissatisfaction and problems of various races in the country.

He pointed out that in a multiracial country, the government should seek the views of the people, instead of acting unilaterally.

"For example, in formulating the Federal Territories Islamic Family Law, the government must make sure that it also takes care of the interest of the non-Muslim community.

"Any party which proposes to charge a non-Muslim with zinah for committing adultery with a Muslim should state clearly under which law and section can this be done.

"No one should be allowed to express their views without basis," he said.

He, however, said Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, as the minister in charge of Islamic affairs, "is the right man to answer any question regarding Islamic laws".

Zaid, who owned the country's largest law firm, Zaid Ibrahim & Co, before he gave up his practice upon being appointed a cabinet minister, agreed to the view that had the Barisan Nasional (BN) not suffered a big setback in the March 8 general election, the government may not have agreed to institute judiciary reforms.

Since his appointment to take charge of law, he has, apart from pushing for the judiciary reforms, proposed that the federal government apologise to victims of the 1988 judicial crisis.

Although the government has stopped short of apologising to the former judges, it has agreed to compensate them.

Zaid said he accepted the government's decision, saying an apology can take many forms.

The Sun
28/4/08