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• Police to use ISA when national security compromised

PUTRAJAYA, Dec 10 (Bernama) -- The nation is heading for disaster when voters are easily swayed by groups that stir up racial sentiments to reap political support, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said Monday.

The prime minister said efforts must be made to sustain the country's stability enjoyed by the people in the last 50 years.

"If voters are easily persuaded by people playing the racial card, then we are heading for disaster," he said during a 30-minute question-and-answer session after delivering his lecture on 'Building Hearts and Minds' in the Khazanah Global Lecture Series at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre, here.

In answering a question from the floor on the government's action in dealing with recent street demonstrations, Abdullah urged voters not to be swayed by groups that stir up racial sentiments to reap political support.

"Enforcement of the law will be the action and no one will be excluded," he said.

Bernama chairman Datuk Seri Mohd Annuar Zaini was the moderator. The lecture was telecast live to Universiti Sains Malaysia, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Universiti Tenaga Nasional and Universiti Malaysia Sabah.

Abdullah said efforts to safeguard the country's security demanded a sense of accountability from the whole rather than the few.

He reiterated his call to the people not to take peace for granted.

Asked by Mohd Annuar on his status, popularly known as Mr Nice Man and Mr Clean, Abdullah said: "I know God knows I'm a clean and a nice person," drawing loud applause from the floor.

"I think being nice is a natural character. It can't be changed. But being nice must not be regarded as weak. God knows I have a duty to do and it is a responsibility for me to discharge it properly," he said.

Abdullah said that since he took over the helm of the country in 2003, a lot had been done to improve the countrys' economy and the lives of the people.

They included launching growth corridors so that the country's development could be spread all over the country and not centred in the Klang Valley.

He had also launched the National Mission which outlines thrusts and action plans in achieving the Vision 2020 towards attaining developed nation status by 2020.

To another question from a university student, Abdullah said universities should not only improve their quality of teaching but also ensure that the institutions could be used as a platform to instil unity among students of different races, thus contributing towards national integrity.

The prime minister also shared his experiences in building good relations with his multi-ethnic friends that he learnt during his boarding school days.

"Respect, understanding and patience are the important qualities in binding relations and we still have strong bonding until today," he said.

Answering other question, Abdullah said he was not satisfied with the level of Malaysian moral values at the moment as he believed there was always room for further improvement.

Police to use ISA when national security compromised

JOHOR BAHARU, Dec 10 (Bernama) -- The police will invoke the Internal Security Act (ISA) against the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) if the country's security is compromised.

"I cannot say when this will happen but police will take sterner action. More drastic action will be taken if the security situation is at risk," Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Musa Hassan said Monday.

"There are signs already that Hindraf activities will have a negative effect on national security," he told reporters here when asked on the possible use of ISA against Hindraf.

He said the police's first option was to have those involved in sowing racial sentiments charged in court.

When suggested that this meant that the police took a soft stand against Hindraf, he said: "No. We will not compromise against groups out to destroy national security and the peace."

He added that the police had completed their investigation on those involved with Hindraf and would have them charged in court soon.

On the police's action on the organisers of illegal rallies held by the Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections (Bersih), Musa said only two people had been detained -- Pas vice president Mohamad Sabu and Parti Keadilan Rakyat information chief Tian Chua.

More arrests would be made soon, he said.

Asked why the sudden surge in illegal rallies, he said: "I cannot say for sure why, maybe because the general election is just around the corner."

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