KUALA LUMPUR, 23 Oct 2008: Seventy seven Members of Parliament (MPs), including a Barisan Nasional MP, has signed a petition to bring forward a debate in the Dewan Rakyat on the Internal Security Act (ISA).
DAP advisor Lim Kit Siang said through the “End the ISA” campaign, the Parliamentary Caucus secretariat had collected 77 signatures of MPs to be handed over to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.
The petition wants Abdullah to give priority to a motion filed by Seputeh MP Teresa Kok over the other official business of the House when it reconvenes after the Deepavali festival next week.
Two independents also signed the petition. The rest who signed were from Pakatan Rakyat, Lim told reporters at the Parliament lobby today.
He said the debate was on the possible review or repeal of the ISA to prevent abuse which several MPs had raised when deliberating the Supply Bill 2009.
“It’s not a commitment to repeal the ISA. This will depend on the outcome of the debate in the Dewan Rakyat when the motion is deliberated,” he said.
The Parliamentary Caucus was set up by the opposition on 12 Sept 2008 to seek the release of Kok who was then under ISA detention. — Bernama
