ISA not invoked to punish

The Internal Security Act (ISA) is a preventive law used by the Government, not to punish detainees but to reform them, said Home Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar.

“ISA detention is meant to safeguard the security of the country, not to punish anyone for any criminal offence,” he said yesterday at a forum titled “Is ISA still relevant?”, organised by non-governmental organisation Shah Alam Free Speech and the ministry.

Syed Hamid said detainees under the ISA were not marred by a criminal record that prevented them from contributing to the nation later.

“They can contest in elections, become Members of Parliament and move freely as long as they don’t threaten the safety and security of the country.”

He added that ISA detainees were granted several rights during their detention.

These included the right to habeas corpus (legal action against unlawful detention), the right to be told the reasons for their detention and the right to appeal or challenge the decision of an advisory board to detain them, as well as a review by the board every six months.

“It also gives room for reform of the detainee,” he said.

He said the Government would not be apologetic over the use of the ISA as it protected the nation from elements that jeopardised peace and stability.

Syed Hamid also said studies by the Government had shown that the majority of Malaysians were still in favour of retaining the ISA.

Former ISA detainee Lokman Noor Adam also spoke at the forum and related his experience during his detention in 1998 and 2001.