Zaid: ISA under review
The Star (23/5/08): The Internal Security Act (ISA) and the Special Complaints Commission Bill are under review – the former to have its provisions updated and the latter to have the power of the commission beefed up.
The Bill, which should have been tabled for second reading last December but was deferred to this year, has been found to be lacking in the empowerment of the commission.
As for the ISA, Datuk Zaid Ibrahim, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department in charge of law, said the Government would review the Act to “enhance and update provisions under the ISA” and review certain aspects of it but declined to provide details.
He told the Dewan Rakyat that the Cabinet had on May 2 tasked three men with this responsibility – himself, Home Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar and Attorney-General Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail.
Replying to Lim Guan Eng (DAP – Bagan) who suggested the ISA be abolished, Zaid said the Government, as announced by Syed Hamid earlier, had no intention of abolishing the ISA and other laws deemed harsh by certain people.
“However, as a government that is sensitive towards the public’s demand, it is open to enhancing and updating provisions under the ISA as well as other laws.
“Preventive detention is actually still needed in this country. However, there is the possibility of reviewing the Act in future as discussed at the Cabinet meeting on May 2,” he said.
To a question from Datuk Kamaruddin Jaafar (PAS – Tumpat) on whether there were any terms of reference and time frame to review the ISA, Zaid replied that there was none.
The minister was replying to points raised during the motion of thanks on the Royal Address.
Zaid also replied to points raised by Datuk Seri Ong Ka Ting (BN – Kulai), Lim Kit Siang (DAP – Ipoh Timur) and Wee Choo Keong (PKR – Wangsa Maju) on the status of the Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC).
He said the Special Complaints Bill, which originated from the IPCMC, was tabled for first reading last year. It was scheduled for second reading on Dec 18 but was deferred to this year.
“Many people, including Tun Dzaiddin Abdullah, chairman of the Royal Commission to Enhance the Operation and Management of the Royal Malaysia Police, were not satisfied with the Special Complaints Commission Bill, saying that the commission lacks the power that it should have.
“As a result, a Cabinet meeting on April 23 instructed me to review the Special Complaints Commission Bill to include input from all parties.
“We need to stress here that the Government has not forgotten the promise it made earlier.
“The Bill will be reviewed to improve it and tabled in the Dewan Rakyat as soon as the Cabinet approves it.”
Asked when the bill would be tabled, Zaid said it would be done by the end of this year.
To another question by Zulkifli Nordin (PKR – Bandar Baru Kulim) on whether the Government would abolish the Official Secrets Act, Zaid said he was only talking about the ISA.
The Bill, which should have been tabled for second reading last December but was deferred to this year, has been found to be lacking in the empowerment of the commission.
As for the ISA, Datuk Zaid Ibrahim, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department in charge of law, said the Government would review the Act to “enhance and update provisions under the ISA” and review certain aspects of it but declined to provide details.
He told the Dewan Rakyat that the Cabinet had on May 2 tasked three men with this responsibility – himself, Home Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar and Attorney-General Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail.
Replying to Lim Guan Eng (DAP – Bagan) who suggested the ISA be abolished, Zaid said the Government, as announced by Syed Hamid earlier, had no intention of abolishing the ISA and other laws deemed harsh by certain people.
“However, as a government that is sensitive towards the public’s demand, it is open to enhancing and updating provisions under the ISA as well as other laws.
“Preventive detention is actually still needed in this country. However, there is the possibility of reviewing the Act in future as discussed at the Cabinet meeting on May 2,” he said.
To a question from Datuk Kamaruddin Jaafar (PAS – Tumpat) on whether there were any terms of reference and time frame to review the ISA, Zaid replied that there was none.
The minister was replying to points raised during the motion of thanks on the Royal Address.
Zaid also replied to points raised by Datuk Seri Ong Ka Ting (BN – Kulai), Lim Kit Siang (DAP – Ipoh Timur) and Wee Choo Keong (PKR – Wangsa Maju) on the status of the Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC).
He said the Special Complaints Bill, which originated from the IPCMC, was tabled for first reading last year. It was scheduled for second reading on Dec 18 but was deferred to this year.
“Many people, including Tun Dzaiddin Abdullah, chairman of the Royal Commission to Enhance the Operation and Management of the Royal Malaysia Police, were not satisfied with the Special Complaints Commission Bill, saying that the commission lacks the power that it should have.
“As a result, a Cabinet meeting on April 23 instructed me to review the Special Complaints Commission Bill to include input from all parties.
“We need to stress here that the Government has not forgotten the promise it made earlier.
“The Bill will be reviewed to improve it and tabled in the Dewan Rakyat as soon as the Cabinet approves it.”
Asked when the bill would be tabled, Zaid said it would be done by the end of this year.
To another question by Zulkifli Nordin (PKR – Bandar Baru Kulim) on whether the Government would abolish the Official Secrets Act, Zaid said he was only talking about the ISA.
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