POLITICAL PARTY URGES M'SIA TO REVIEW ISA AND RELEASE TERESA, RAJA PETRA

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 17 (Bernama) -- MCA, a uni-racial political party in Malaysia that represents the Malaysian Chinese ethnic, has urged the Malaysian government to conduct a comprehensive review of the Internal Security Act (ISA) and come up with a check-and-balance mechanism of its use.

MCA president Ong Ka Ting said that the intention was to prevent the
legislation which allows for indefinite detention without trial, from
abuse.

"It is so that ISA will apply strictly to cases relating to terrorism and
subversive elements," he told reporters after chairing the party's Central
Committee meeting which lasted about six hours at Wisma MCA here
Tuesday.

MCA stands for Malaysian Chinese Association.

He said the Central Committee also wanted the Home Ministry to release
Member of Parliament for Seputeh Teresa Kok and blogger Raja Petra Kamaruddin
who were being held under the Act.

Ong said the two detainees should instead be investigated under other
provisions and charged in court if there were evidence that they had broken the
law.
Besides Kok and Raja Petra, Sin Chew Daily reporter Tan Hoon Cheng was
also arrested under ISA on Friday, but she has since heen released.

"The detention of Tan for 18 hours under the ISA was totally uncalled for
and the explanation given for her detention was unacceptable," Ong said.

Meanwhile, Ong said MCA had acquired the balance of 20.23 per cent
equity in Wisma MCA Sdn Bhd from Koperasi Jayadiri Malaysia Berhad for RM27.6
million after the sale and purchase agreement was signed on Aug 15.

"This means that the party headquarters building is now wholly-owned by
MCA," he said.

He added that the purchase price was according to the market value.

-- BERNAMA