Legal eagles urge PM to abolish ISA

Written by Writer on Thursday, October 30th, 2008

Legal eagles urge PM to abolish ISA

KUALA LUMPUR: There was commonality in the opening speeches by members of the legal fraternity at Lawasia Conference 2008 yesterday: abolish the Internal Security Act (ISA).

Malaysian Bar Council president Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan, Lawasia president Mah Weng Kwai and Lawasia organising committee chairman Christopher Leong appealed to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to abolish the ISA.

Ambiga initiated the request by asking Abdullah to do so while he was still in office.

“While you can still do so, and as a historic legacy to the country that we both love, I ask that you remove and abolish the ISA,” she said, receiving thunderous applause from the audience.

Abdullah, who read out his speech from a prepared text, took some time at the end of it to speak off-the-cuff to the audience.
“As a former home minister, I am well aware of the law and why we must have it. It is not an easy law to execute. Without fear or favour, I discharge my responsibilities.”

Abdullah said that the government would ensure justice for the people, which was most important. He said people often spoke about having rights and freedom but when certain freedom infringed or threatened others, “then some kind of law has to be enforced”.

NST Online
Thursday, October 30, 2008