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Progress 'makes ISA obsolete'

Monday, 19 September 2011 08:59am

©The New Straits Times (Used by permission)
by M. Hamzah Jamaludin

PEKAN: The government's decision to repeal the Internal Security Act (ISA) and review several other laws could be done because of the level of progress and quality development achieved by the country, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.

The government was able to make the historic decision also partly because of the people who had become more educated and who appreciated a mature democracy and a legal system that could safeguard basic human rights.

Najib, who is also Barisan Nasional chairman, added that the announcement he made on the eve of Malaysia Day was not due to pressure from any parties.

"It is a contribution from the Barisan Nasional government as the time has come for us to move together to further develop the economy, social and education standards and make the country the best in terms of parliamentary democracy in the world," he said at his Hari Raya open house at Taman Tasik Sultan Abu Bakar near here yesterday.

Najib also highlighted the government's ability to develop the country at a faster rate than others that gained independence at more or less the same period.

This enabled the people to have better education and value systems while remaining open-minded.

All these, Najib said, allowed the government to move forward and introduce political transformation, including scrapping the ISA legislation.

The emphasis on democracy and human rights, however, would not make the government neglect its responsibility to assist the people in all areas.

"We will continue protecting the people, including expanding the 1Malaysia Kedai Rakyat, 1Malaysia Clinics and introducing ceiling prices for essential goods," he said, adding that the government had allocated RM30 billion for annual subsidies to ease the people's burden.

Although some people claimed that the subsidies were among their basic rights, Najib said the people should be grateful to the government which had always found ways to assist them.

More than 50,000 people attended the open house which Najib hosted with his wife, Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor.

Also present were Sultan Ahmad Shah, and his consort Sultanah Kalsom, Tengku Mahkota of Pahang Tengku Abdullah and Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Adnan Yaakob.

Najib, who is also Pekan member of parliament, presented gifts to 240 Pekan constituents who will be performing their haj this year.

Apart from enjoying delicacies prepared by 130 caterers and stall operators, the crowd was also entertained by popular artistes, including Bob Tutopoly from Indonesia, and local singers like Ramlah Ram and Dafi.

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