ISA families to get aid from S'gor state govt

SHAH ALAM: The Selangor government has pledged to help the families of Internal Security Act (ISA) detainees by providing welfare assistance.

Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim said several steps could be taken to help the wives and children of these detainees, to help them through difficult times.

The state government could bear the travelling costs for families to visit the detention camp every week, he said.

The children could get scholarships to further their studies, and ways can be found for the wives to become entrepreneurs.

“Life can be difficult for them but they must continue to fight,” he said after receiving a memorandum from Gerakan Mansuhkan ISA (GMI or Abolish ISA Movement) here on Monday.

Khalid said GMI's move was in line with the state government's call for the abolition of the ISA and OSA (Official Secrets Act).

GMI chairman Syed Ibrahim Syed Noh said there were six families whose sole breadwinner had been detained since 2002.

“Six years is not a short period -- these sole breadwinners have lost their jobs and their children are suffering the consequences.

“There are also two detainees whose wives have sought divorce because of the long detention," he added.

Star Online
26/05/08