Media statement by Dr. Hiew King Cheu in Kota Kinabalu on Monday, 19^th September 2011:

Removal of ISA announcement by Najib

Many people had viewed the announcement on the removal of the Internal Security Act 1960 made by the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak as a move to secure and harvest support from the people to continue to support the Barisan Nasional (BN) back into power during the fore coming 13th general election.

The law had caused many people falling into deep suffering, dismay, anger, and demonstrated adverse effect and infringement on human rights and freedom. This is demonstrated fully on the use of the Act against political rival and opposition party leaders. There are lots of examples in the past where political leaders were arrested and put under detention for a maximum period of two years without trial. Famous opposition leaders like Datuk Anwar Ibrahim, Lim Kit Siang, Lim Guan Eng, and Karpal Singh and many others had experienced the ill treatment not only once but many times.

We cannot have such unjust ISA law in Malaysia, and it is timely to repeal this. The question remains why Najib is doing it now and at the same time announced that there will be two other laws of similarity to replace this ISA. We for sure would want to know the content of the two new laws. Will these laws be even worst than the ISA or giving more power to the government to "take care" the oppositions? Najib is not sure, but still he made the announcement in advance. He is merely trying to pull a fast gain on his political support for sure, but the people in Malaysia would not easily buy that. Furthermore, the Parliament has to sit first to finally endorse the repeal of the ISA, and there will be definitely a yes and okay. With that the 2 new laws have to be tabled, debated and passed at the same time of course.

At the mean while, what will be the faith of the many people in the detention centre who were put there under the ISA? Will they be released with immediate effect? The people demand an immediate release, and this will be supported by the opposition. It is also the right of the people who had been detent in the past to claim for compensation on their suffering and losses.

This is not an election gimmick to fool the people and to lure them in supporting the BN. This is due to the ISA law can only be tabled and repealed in the March 2012 Parliament sitting and the new laws be approved for replacement. By then Najib could have called the 13th general election and forgetting totally on this repeal later. Therefore it is better not to pay too much attention over this issue and in stead should concentrate to bring BN down and replace by PR. Then we shall see some light in abolishing the particular act once for all.

* Dr Hiew King Cheu, MP for Kota Kinabalu