INTERNAL SECURITY ACT STILL RELEVANT FOR MALAYSIA - SHAHRIR

JOHOR BAHARU (Malaysia), Sept 15 (Bernama) -- Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Shahrir Abdul Samad is of the opinion that the Internal Security Act (ISA) is still relevant for this country.

The Umno Supreme Council member said although he once left the government
and became an independent member of parliament, he had never called for the
review or abolishment of the ISA as he realised that the Act was necessary for
the government to govern a multi-racial and multi-religious society.

"My opinion is that it is still needed (by the government), for it is
difficult to govern a country with different races, cultures and religions," he
told reporters in this southern city Sunday. Shahrir was responding to police
action of arresting three individuals under the ISA, namely Selangor state
executive councillor Teresa Kok, blogger and operator of the Malaysia Today
website Raja Petra Raja Kamarudin and Sin Chew Daily reporter Tan Hoon Cheng for
arousing racial and religious sentiments. But Tan was released Saturday.

Shahrir, however, said that the ISA must be used wisely and
responsibly.

"If it is to be used, it must really be based on public interest and not
for certain individuals' vested interest," he added.
-- BERNAMA