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| MOMENTOUS ANNOUNCEMENT: Najib delivering his Malaysia Day message at Angkasapuri in Kuala Lumpur |
KUALA LUMPUR: The Internal Security Act (ISA) 1960
will be abolished and two new laws will be introduced to safeguard peace and
order, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said.
The prime minister also announced that the
government would repeal the Banishment Act 1959 and reviewing other laws to be
in line with current needs.
A comprehensive study will be carried out on the
Restricted Residence Act 1993 and the Printing Presses and Publication Act 1984
where annual renewals would be done away with, and replaced with issuance of
licence until it is revoked.
Announcing the matter last night in his special
Malaysia Day message, Najib said the two new laws would be formulated “under
the spirit and umbrella” of Article 149 of the Federal Constitution to prevent
subversive elements as well as fighting organised terrorism and crime, in order
to safeguard peace and public order.
In the message delivered in front of 800 people at
Angkasapuri and aired live over TV1 and TVi, the prime minister said the new
laws replacing the ISA would provide for a shorter detention period.
He added that extension of detention can only be
done through a court order, except in the law concerning terrorism where the
power remained with the minister.
“Generally, the power to extend the detention period
will shift from the executive to the judiciary, except in matters concerning
terrorism,” he said.
Najib had promised when he first took over the helm
of the country’s administration on April 3, 2009 that he would carry out a
comprehensive review of the ISA.
Najib said last night that the government would
ensure that the rights of those being taken action under the new law would be
safeguarded in line with the spirit of the Federal Constitution.
He said the government also assured that individuals
would not be detained because of their political ideologies.
“The government will also review Section 27 of the
Police Act 1967, taking into account the provision in Article 10 of the Federal
Constitution concerning freedom of assembly,” he said.
Najib stressed however that stern action would
remain against street demonstrators.
He said that the permit to assemble would be given
under certain set of criteria to be determined later, taking into consideration
the norms at the international level.
Najib said the government would not hesitate to
amend or repeal laws which are no longer relevant.
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Source : Bernama
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