The Star) - Gerakan is now prepa-ring to send a memorandum to the Federal Government, asking for a comprehensive review of the Internal Security Act (ISA) and the enactment of an Anti-Terrorism Act to replace it.
State Gerakan chairman Datuk Dr Teng Hock Nan said the party believed that the country needed a new Act to cope with the increase in terrorism cases.
“We are strongly against the ISA especially when it involves detention without trial.
“Two classical examples are the recent detention of blogger Raja Petra Kamaruddin and journalist Tan Hoon Cheng,” he said.
He was speaking to newsmen after attending a forum on ‘GMI Consultation on ISA: What next?’ at the Dewan Sri Pinang on Sunday.
Dr Teng said he and other Gerakan leaders, including state Gerakan assistant secretary Goh Kheng Sneah, secretary Ong Thean Lye and Youth committee member Dr Thor Teong Gee were at the forum to show their support for GMI (Gerakan Mansuhkan ISA).
Kuala Lumpur GMI president Syed Ibrahim Syed Noh said there were 27 ISA detainees as at April 5.
“There were 70 of them in 2007, 46 last year and this year, we can see that the number is declining.
“However, the figures just don’t matter for as long as the ISA is still there, the fear still exists,” he said.
Syed Ibrahim said he believed the declining number could be the result of anti-ISA campaigning.
“There is already awareness among the people but most of them choose to remain silent.
“We need the people to step out to pressure the government,” he said.
4 weeks ago
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