TMI - Hisham wrong about Patriot Act, says Suhakam

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 22 — Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein misunderstands the reason for the United States’ preventive detention clause in its Patriot Act, Malaysia’s Human Rights Commission (Suhakam) said today.

Commissioner Muhammad Sha’ani Abdullah pointed out that the US security law does not allow for detention without trial, disputing the minister’s citation yesterday.

“That’s why Hishammuddin’s statement that the new law replacing the Internal Security Act (ISA) is the equivalent of the Patriot Act is not true,” he said.

Yesterday, the minister announced that the replacement for the much-criticised ISA next year will still include a clause that will allow the police to detain a person without trial.

Hishammuddin had said the preventive measure was needed to combat militant movements and terrorism, and cited as examples the Patriot Act in the United States as well as the Anti-Terror Acts in Britain and Australia.

The home minister and the national human rights watchdog have been engages in a verbal exchange following the arrest of seven Malaysians and six foreigners in Sabah last week, for what the police allege to be an attempt to revive a militant movement in the state.

Suhakam chairman Tan Sri Hasmy Agam issued a strongly-worded statement soon after, saying the arrests went against Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s promise to repeal the archaic security law.

“What we want is to see them taken to court and tried and not detained without trial under ISA,” Muhammad Sha’ani said today, backing Hasmy.

read more at TheMalaysianInsider.com

TMI - Pakatan: ISA replacement ‘old wine in new bottle’

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 22 — Repealing the Internal Security Act (ISA) would be pointless if its replacement law will still include detention without trial, Pakatan Rakyat (PR) leaders have argued.

Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein said yesterday the ISA substitute will continue to provide for such arbitrary detention.

He cited countries such as the United States, United Kingdom and Australia as examples of governments that exercised detention without trial in the fight against terrorism, naming the US’s Patriot Act as well as the UK and Australia’s Anti-Terrorism Acts.

“This is a shameful attempt at inserting ‘old wine into new bottle’,” Nurul Izzah Anwar told The Malaysian Insider.

“This announcement confirms many fears we have had regarding the prime minister’s political will in implementing his reform pledges to the Malaysian public on September 15, 2011, changes are merely rebranding exercises.”

The PKR vice-president charged that Barisan Nasional would only accord Malaysians limited civil, political and human rights, with disregard to the Federal Constitution.

Another PKR leader, Datuk Kamarul Baharin, said Hishammuddin’s announcement proved the government was not earnest in reforming the archaic laws.

“Like old wine in a new bottle. What’s the point then? Najib is not sincere in abolishing the laws.

read more at TheMalaysianInsider.com

TMI - ISA: Nurul Izzah dakwa Najib bohong

KUALA LUMPUR, 20 Nov — Naib Presiden PKR Nurul Izzah Anwar hari ini mendakwa Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Najib Razak telah berbohong apabila menjanjikan pembaharuan politik sedangkan pada masa yang sama menahan 13 individu di bawah Akta Keselamatan Dalam Negeri (ISA).

September lalu Najib berjanji akan memansuhkan ISA.

“Ia (apa yang diperkatakan) hanya kerja perhubungan awam di pihak perdana menteri. Anda telah berbohong kepada rakyat Malaysia,” kata beliau selepas melancarkan Program Sumbangan Yayasan Aman di pejabat Pusat Perkhidmatan Ahli Lembah Pantai di sini hari ini.

Dalam perutusan khas sempena Hari Malaysia pada 15 September lalu, Najib berkata akan memansuhkan ISA dan akan digantikan oleh dua akta baru.

“Jika ada bukti yang membuktikan mereka (13 tahanan) amat berbahaya kepada masyarakat, maka dakwa mereka di mahkamah terbuka,” kata Nurul Izzah yang juga Ahli Parlimen Lembah Pantai.

Semalam, Menteri Dalam Negeri Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein berkata kumpulan 13 individu yang ditahan pihak berkuasa di Tawau awal minggu lalu sebagai amat berbahaya kepada keselamatan negara dan serantau.

read more at TheMalaysianInsider.com