Review ISA : Koh Tsu Koon

19-09-2008:
Review ISA, says Koh
by Regina William



PENANG: While welcoming the cabinet's decision to proceed with the formulation of a Race Relations Act, Gerakan acting president Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon has emphasised on the need to substantially amend the Internal Security Act (ISA) or to replace it with a more specific act on national security and anti-terrorism, as proposed by Suhakam.

Koh said incidents over the past two years had shown that while the Malaysian society may have become more integrated in many aspects, there were still elements of extremism, racism or sheer opportunism which played on racial and religious issues for publicity and self promotion.

"At the same time, members of the public at large have become increasingly more sensitive and critical against such irresponsible behaviours that hurt feelings, cause uneasiness and evoke sentiments.

"There is a greater determination for zero tolerance," Koh said in a statement.

He said Gerakan had set up a special taskforce to prepare a memorandum to the Cabinet in relations to the proposed National Unity Act, amendment or abolition of ISA and amendments to other related acts.

The taskforce will be headed jointly by two vice presidents, namely Datuk Dr S Vijayaratnam who is also the chairman of Gerakan's International and Inter-ethnic Relations Bureau, and Datuk Chang Ko Youn who is the Central Legal Bureau chairman.

Koh also stressed that the proposed Race Relations Act should cover a more comprehensive scope, to be more appropriately called the National Unity Act, which will promote inter-ethnic, inter-religious understanding and harmony, besides inter-ethnic relations.

At the same time, Koh said there must be clear provisions for stringent deterrents to penalise those who intentionally threaten national unity and inter-group harmony.

A special tribunal and other appropriate dispute resolution mechanism, such as mediation, should also be set up to specifically handle such cases, he added.