Govt won’t bring back ISA
The government has no inten on of reviving the Internal Security Act (ISA) 1960 which was abolished in 2012 and will use exis ng legisla ons to maintain peace and na onal security, said Home Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.
PUTRAJAYA: The government has no intention of reviving the Internal Security Act (ISA) 1960 which was abolished in 2012 and will use existing legislations to maintain peace and national security, said Home Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.
The findings of a committee formed had found that laws such as the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 (SOSMA) and the Prevention of Crime Act 1959 (POCA) were important and should be defended although some amendments might be needed later.
“If the existing legislations are not defended, some groups who think that they are free to do anything that could jeopardise the nation by becoming gangsters or terrorists could crop up. As such, we will apply the existing laws which will be enforced fully by the police and other enforcement agencies,” he added.
Muhyiddin, who is also Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) President disclosed this in his winding-up speech at the second Annual General Assembly of the party at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre (PICC), here yesterday.
Meanwhile, Muhyiddin said the Institute of Malaysia’s Future under the party would become the think tank in making in-depth studies on the direction for the party and the Malays.
“The think tank will make an empirical study on what should be done by the party and the action needed based on the studies on the party and the Malays. It certainly will be related to the new Bumiputera Agenda for the sake of joint prosperity,” he said.
The new Bumiputera Agenda was proposed by Muhyiddin when he officiated the Annual Conference for Bersatu Wanita (Srikandi) and Youth (Armada) wings on Friday which would be implemented as the national agenda and could truly develop the Malays and Bumiputeras generally.
Commenting on the survival of the party, Muhyiddin said he concurred with the debaters at this year’s general assembly that it was important to increase party membership and to strengthen the leadership at the branch and divisional levels.
He explained that this was because Bersatu was the place where the Malays sought protection and should be supported through operations as though the general election was around the corner for the sake of the religion, race and country.
“I agree on the suggestion that the position of the divisions should be strengthened and determine the branches based on the Polling District Centres (PDM). We need to ensure the presence of Bersatu and attract the public via positive elements and not through disagreements among ourselves,” he said.
The Bersatu Annual General Assembly (PAT), which began on Friday until today, was the first held after the Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition helmed the country following the 14th General Election held in May this year. – Bernama