GOVT WILL NOT USE ISA WITHOUT CONCRETE REASON, SAYS PM

PUTRAJAYA, Sept 13 (Bernama) -- The government will not use the Internal Security Act (ISA) without concrete reason, and this was so in the detention of blogger Raja Petra Kamarudin, Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said Friday.

Detentions under the ISA were carried out only after the government was
convinced that there was a threat to security and public order, he told
reporters after a meeting with senior officials of Khazanah Nasional at the
Finance Ministry, here.

Raja Petra was detained this afternoon at his house in Sungai Buloh near
here at 1.10 pm under Section 731 of the ISA.

Home Minister Syed Hamid Albar said the detention came in the wake of
various statements published by Raja Petra in his blog "Malaysia Today", the
latest being a commentary which allegedly ridiculed Islam and Prophet
Muhammad.

Abdullah, who is also the Finance Minister, said he believed the Home
Minister had considered the possible threat to public order when ordering the
detention of Raja Petra.

Section 731 of the ISA permits the detention of an individual for up to 60
days, after which it will be determined whether he or she can be released or
should be detained further.