The Internal Security Act has now been abolished and replaced with the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act. But not all Barisan Nasional MPs were keen on abolishing the ISA. Find out what MPs told The Nut Graph about what they thought about the ISA during the MP Watch: Eye on Parliament project.
Internal Security Act
False hope in Security Offences Act
Holding Court by Ding Jo-Ann
THE Security Offences (Special Measures) Bill (Sosma), passed by the Dewan Rakyat on 18 April 2012, will repeal the Internal Security Act (ISA) once it comes into effect. The ISA has long been criticised for allowing preventive detention for indefinite periods without trial. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said the reform, including the rescinding […]
Suhakam chief: “We’re an independent entity”
By Gan Pei Ling
TAN Sri Hasmy Agam was appointed the new Suhakam chief in June 2010. Previously, he was executive chairperson of the Institute of Diplomacy and Foreign Relations (IDFR), and secretary-general of the United Nations Association of Malaysia. “I’m conscious of the fact that I’m no longer a civil servant. Now that I’m the chair[person] of Suhakam, […]
Leading the student movement in the 1960s
By Gan Pei Ling
STUDENT activism in Universiti Malaya thrived in the 1960 and early 1970s. One of the key student leaders was Syed Hamid Ali who was University of Malaya Students’ Union (Umsu) general-secretary from 1967 to 1969, before he was elected president for the 1969 to 1970 term. Syed Hamid’s activism inadvertently began because he couldn’t be […]
The police doth protest too much
By Tarani Palani
CANDLELIGHT vigils on the night of 1 Aug 2010 to protest against 50 years of the Internal Security Act (ISA), which allows for indefinite state detention without trial, were marred with arrests and heavy police presence. In Petaling Jaya, around 200 protesters gathered for the vigil in Dataran Timur opposite Amcorp Mall from 8pm onwards. […]
Detention without trial allowed under other laws
By The Fairly Current ShowTHE Internal Security Act (ISA) has been receiving much attention, with expectation that the government plans to amend this legislation that allows for indefinite detention without trial. However, civil society groups have been fighting to draw more focus to two other laws that also allow for detention without trial. The Fairly Current Show host Fahmi […]
The BN’s ISA dilemma
By Shanon ShahHOME Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein announced in August 2009 that amendments to the Internal Security Act (ISA) would be tabled during the following October Parliament sitting. This was just after the massive anti-ISA protest in Kuala Lumpur. That amendment, however, never materialised. Hishammuddin then said in December 2009 that the ISA amendments would be […]
The BN and the ISA
By Shanon ShahACADEMIC and activist Dr Kua Kia Soong was arrested under the Internal Security Act (ISA) during 1987’s Operation Lallang. Upon his release, he wrote about his experiences in detention in his bestselling book, 445 Days under Operation Lalang. The book’s third edition is going to print soon and will be available in bookshops and from […]
Anwar Ibrahim (Permatang Pauh)
By Deborah LohPERMATANG PAUH Member of Parliament (MP) Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s response to the MP Watch: Eye on Parliament project, which asks all 222 MPs six questions. (source: parlimen.gov.my)Name: Anwar IbrahimConstituency: Permatang PauhParty: PKR (Opposition) Years as MP: 1982-1999 (Permatang Pauh, under Umno) 26 Aug 2008-present (Permatang Pauh, under PKR) Government post: None Party position: […]
Addicted to violence
By Wong Chin Huat(Syringe image by Yosia Urip; pills by Richard Dunstan / sxc.hu) WE have celebrated Merdeka Day and will usher in Malaysia Day, the real national day, just a week from now. But why are we celebrating the birth of our nation? Indeed, why celebrate the birth of any nation? This is not another article lamenting […]
