Anwar Ibrahim claims that Najib has assured BN leaders that the essence of ISA will be retained under a different name.

KUALA LUMPUR: Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim today alleged that Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak secretly assured Barisan Nasional leaders that the spirit of the Internal Security Act will be retained.

“I’ve heard on the quiet that he (Najib) has said don’t worry because we still have other laws in place, that is what is disconcerting as far as we are concerned,” Anwar told reporters at the Jalan Duta High Court here after his Sodomy II trial adjourned for the day.

“…in private sessions he (Najib) has given categorical assurances that the government will still be tough, and introduce laws that will protect. Which means it is still equivalent to ISA but just under another name,” he said.

Anwar said the decision by Najib to do away with the ISA, which allowed for detention without trial, would not sit well within Umno circles.

“…because they have been responsible, the Umno leaders, for continuing this incessant form of propaganda that ISA is meant to keep their rule, Malay survival or Malay dominance, now they have to explain,” he added.

Anwar said only last month, Umno said that the ISA was critical for “Malay survival, for Malay rule, for Malay interests”, but now hailed the repeal as a “brilliant and forward-looking decision”.

The opposition leader said he did not understand how certain professors could even praise the move without knowing the specifics of what would be its replacement.

Describing it as “old wine in a new bottle”, Anwar urged Malaysians not to be naïve to assume that there was any “substantive or meaningful change”.

“Firstly, he is yet to introduce the two new laws (which will replace the ISA).

“The system here has never been transparent, never been open. Secondly, it was not about ISA per se, but it a systemic problem about having an oppressive system,” he said.

“Do you sense any change? There’s none.

“We are talking about free media, there is no free media, in fact it has gotten worse. Its just a semblance, a show of hypocrisy of Umno leaders and supporters,” he added.

He said Najib and his government had no seriousness in terms of ensuring or at least showing any semblance of meaningful change.

“But if you ask me specifically, do you welcome (the repeal of ISA)? Of course, I welcome this good announcement, I don’t think we should dismiss that,” he added.

Anwar said he trust that the rakyat could see through what Najib was doing.

“I believe that the public are not easy to be lied to. If he just reads a statement from public relations company Apco, then the public can judge for themselves,” he said.

Not bothered about CCTV footage

On the recent “expose” of a CCTV footage which a pro-Umno blogger claimed proved that Anwar was involved in a sex scandal, the opposition leader dismissed the matter, saying: “I would not want to be bothered with this.”

Meanwhile, Anwar said that Pakatan Rakyat was in the “final stages of preparations” in several states for the general election.

Asked about East Malaysia, the PKR supremo said it was hard to negotiate with SNAP but it appeared that SAPP looked ready to discuss.

On the recent Johor DAP-PKR seat tussle, Anwar said that the top Pakatan leadership had advised the state leaders.

“You can demand for certain things, but follow the proper channels. The public wants change, but they don’t wish to see infighting,” he added.