ISA STILL RELEVANT - MINISTER

SEMPORNA (Malaysia), Sept 22 (Bernama) -- The Internal Security Act (ISA) is still needed to maintain public order and harmony among various races in the country,said Unity, Culture, Arts and Heritage Minister Mohd Shafie Apdal.

"There is no need to review the act. We should appreciate its merits in solving sensitive issues affecting various races and religions in the country,"
he told reporters after witnessing the handing over of aid for the poor by Media
Prima in the TV3's "Bersamamu" programme at the Inabah Kamal Mosque in this town
in East Malaysia state of Sabah Sunday.

He said the proposed Race Relations Act, which had been approved by the
cabinet, would help strengthen race relations.

"The act, which is being drafted, will enable the authorities to deal with
matters affecting the sensitivity of each race and religion," he said, adding
that the government would listen to the views of all quarters before tabling the
bill in parliament.

He was commenting on Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA) president Ong Kah
Ting's remarks that race relations could not be managed through legislations,
and East Malaysia state of Sarawak Planning and Resource Management Assistant
Minister Awang Tengah Ali Hassan's statement that Sarawak did not need the
act.

Shafie likened the statements as suggesting that the country did not need a
constitution to uphold Islam as the official religion, the position of the
rulers and the Malay rights.

"Without the constitution, what will be the platform of our actions?" he
asked.
--BERNAMA