DNA BILL NOT AIMED AT A SPECIFIC PERSON, SAYS SYED HAMID

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 28 (Bernama) -- Home Minister Syed Hamid Albar
today denied allegations that the DNA Bll tabled in Parliament is aimed at a specific person.

"I will be the first person to leave my job if the Bill done for such a
purpose. The Act (when passed) cannot make a person not guilty, guilty," he
told reporters at Parliament's lobby.

Syed Hamid said taking DNA samples had been practiced by the Government for
a long time.

"What we want to do is to formalise all activities, make provisions for
research and collaboration with international bodies to institutionalise what
has been the practice of the country," he said.

He said at present there was no specific Act that governed the practice and
denied that there was a sinister motive behind it.

"It is a scientific act which is useful and brings us to another era. It is
fair if they (MPs) discuss and raise certain issues as I consider this to be an
important Bill," he said.

Syed Hamid said Bill when passed would allow rules and regulations to be
established on matter relating to DNA.

"If we have a data bank that is subject to scrutiny by international
bodies, it is something for the good. But if you interpret everything in
negative way then you will see all the bad things," he said.

-- BERNAMA