ISA detainees: when did they posed threat to national security?

Syed Hamid: We can’t just free ISA detainee

Hindu Rights Action Force leader M. Manoharan who is being detained under the Internal Security Act cannot be released just because he was elected Kota Alam Shah assemblyman, Home Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar said.

“We cannot simply react to political parties’ calls. We have to give priority to public safety and peace and will give due consideration only if there is no threat to national security.”

What is national security?

The concept of security of Malaysia goes back to the days when communists were a national threat to the maintaining of peace and national sovereignty. The ISA was therefore introduced to curb the imminent threats. But the communists had surrendered, and thereafter, the ISA has been used to curb political differences and to suppression of rights and freedom of individuals.

Although national security measures are imposed with the sole intention to protect society as a whole, such measures will necessarily tend to restrict the rights and freedoms of individuals. The concern is that where the exercise of national security laws and powers is not subject to good governance, the rule of law, and strict checks and balances, there is a risk that "national security" may simply serve as a pretext for suppressing unfavorable political and social views. Taken to its logical conclusion, this view contends that measures which may ostensibly serve a national security purpose (such as mass surveillance, and censorship of mass media), could ultimately lead to a police state (reference: Wikipedia)

In a recent incident in Terengganu, Umno members demonstrated against the Sultan of Terengganu who is also our Malaysian King, the Yang di Pertuan Agong, and the Umno members carried placards that reads: "Kami nak Idris Natang"; did they not called our Tuanku, Natang? And if our Tuanku can be called Natang, wouldn't it threatened the integrity and honour of our sovereign ruler? He is King, he is our King, not Natang.

But no one was arrested and charged for sedition and no one was put under ISA. However, when the Hindraf wanted to present a memo to the British High Commissioner, many were arrested and five of them were detained under the ISA, and not allowed to defend their case in the court of law. Syed Hamid said they posed a threat to national security. This is clearly an abuse of power and analogous to a police state.