ISA

No matter how one regards the redoubtable Internal Security Act 1960 ( ISA), it is a weighty piece of legislation. Preciselly because it can impinge so much on an indivual's life, any policy change pertaining to it must also impinge on the interest and imagination of Malaysian society. Any law must be reformable with the times. That is necessary to keep the letter of the law compatibel with its spirit, and to maintain the law as an instrument of justice. Eventhe ISA's greatest defenders now agree to change. Debate continues only on how far to liberalise it, or to abolish it altogether. The latter consideration has a special relevance after half a century. A point of consideration is that enough laws already exist to overlap one another in keeping the nation secure. Another point is that the ISA is often invoked politically for partisan reasons. Yet another is that it does not allow for judicial review, even in cases of error, impetuousness, vengerfulness or abuse. No less impirtant is that the ISA is often applied as blanket legislation when doubt or insufficient grounds exist for hounding a suspect. That is when application of the law can dangerously deviate from the administration of justice. These and other contentions surrounding the ISA are reasons for the HOme MInstry to consult the widest possible channels among various sectors before reforming the law instead of abolishing it. 

All laws are of public interst  and perhaps none more so than the ISA. Now that ministry has decided to table and debate  the amandements to the ISA in Parliament. There is still time to seek more consultations than the six already undertaken with public interest groups.

We are still surprised that none of those groups inclluded the National Union of Jounalist, which represents media practioners who may  in the course of theri duties of disseminating information inadvertently brush up againts the ISA. The nect three months must see more concerted effort at meaningful and productive discussions. The goverment must not be seeen as rushing through major legislation withaout sufficient consultation, nor should public interest groups seem apathetic to the need of the moment.