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Some support it, while others call for its abolishment. Each with their own justification. It was therefore fitting that the Human Rights Committee of the Bar Council (HRC) together with Gerakan Mansuhkan ISA (GMI) and the Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall Civil Rights Committee (CRC-KLSCAH) organized a forum entitled “ISA: Mansuh atau Pinda”. It took place between 8.00 and 10.30 pm yesterday, 17 June 2008.

The panellists were Dato’ Ambiga Sreenevasan (President of the Malaysian Bar), YB Tian Chua (MP Batu), Syed Ibrahim Syed Noh (Chairman of GMI) and Puan Norlaila Othman (wife of ISA detainee Mat Sah Satray).

With Fadiah Nadwa Fikri as the moderator, the forum kicked off at 845pm after a brief welcome speech by Puan Aliza Jaafar, the wife of YB Saari Sungib, and ex-detainee and Puan Norlaila Othman, whose husband is Mat Sah Satray, currently detained at Kamunting under the ISA. Fadiah explained the historical background that led to the introduction of the ISA into the Malaysian landscape. She then turned to Dato’ Ambiga and asked her opinion on the Bar Council’s position with regard to ISA.

Dato’ Ambiga said that the Malaysian Bar was in full support of repealing the ISA. In its effort to support the campaign to abolish the ISA, the Malaysian Bar has passed many resolutions and organized forums to debate the relevancy of the ISA. She then made reference to the recent decision by Justice Hishamudin Yunus in Abdul Malek’s case. What was peculiar about this case, she said, was that the court had awarded Abdul Malek exemplary damages, which clearly showed the judiciary’s attitude towards the ISA.

Madam President then went on to inform the audience that the Malaysian Bar had been making forthnightly trips to Kamunting to visit the detainees. She talked about her personal experience visiting the detention camp where she saw what the ISA detainees had to go through. She went on to suggest to YB Tian Chua that Members of Parliament should also make the trips down to Kamunting to see and understand the pain that the families of the ISA detainees had to go through. Madam President concluded by stressing that the provisions in the ISA go against the rule of law.

Fadiah then turned to YB Tian Chua and asked him, as a political activist who had experienced detention under the ISA, whether there is a tool to enhance the ISA.

YB Tian Chua started by stating that there is no debate in relation to the topic. He said that if Datuk Zaid Ibrahim (Minister in the Prime Minister’s legal department) was present at the forum, he would be prepared to discuss this topic. He said that in a civil society there is no argument to maintain the ISA. He believed that there is no space to enhance the ISA. YB then referred to the recent general election results where he said that the rakyat had given clear signals to the government that they are not happy with any draconian legislation. He said that the government failed to read these signals and made no attempt to abolish the ISA. He went on further to say that the ISA is not an effective tool to reduce the crime rate.

The next speaker that Fadiah called on was Syed Ibrahim. She asked him to share his experience with regard to GMI’s efforts to call for the abolishment of the ISA. Syed Ibrahim mentioned the 3 main opinions with regards to the ISA: those who support the ISA, those who call for its repeal, and those who are unsure whether to support or abolish the ISA. He presented a slide on the overview of the campaign where he produced some quotes from politicians. One of it was by Lim Guan Eng, who said, “Detention without trial is in violation of the rule of law, human rights and principles of democratic government”. The audience fell silent when he showed sketches of ISA detainees being tortured during interrogation.

The final speaker that Fadiah invited was Puan Norlaila Othman, to narrate her own personal experience as a victim of the ISA. Puan Norlaila said that, as a wife of an ISA detainee, she felt like a hopeless object when the authorities took her husband away. The family lost their source of income and she had to depend on other people for support. It was harrowing to listen to her speak about how her children missed their father, and had to face the humiliation of explaining to their friends why their father is being detained in Kamunting. She further talked about her anti-ISA campaign which includes letter writing, postcard signing and online petition.

After all the speakers had finished giving their views on the topic, Fadiah invited the audience to participate in a short question and answer session. One person posed a question to YB Tian Chua and asked him how committed are Pakatan Rakyat to the campaign for abolishment of the ISA. YB Tian Chua confirmed that abolishing the ISA is part of Pakatan Rakyat’s commitment. To a query by another audience on the effect of the anti-ISA campaign by GMI, Syed Ibrahim said he was unsure of the effect, but said that the effect can only be gauged from the support from the public.

From the sentiments expressed by the speakers, there was clearly a general consensus in favour of repealing the ISA. Fadiah ended the forum by quoting Margaret Meade, “Never doubt that a small group of committed citizens can change the world, indeed it is the only thing that ever does”.

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