Why Malaysia Need ISA?

ISA which is known as Internal Security Act is a preventive detention law which in force in Malaysia. Any person may be detained by police up to 60 days without trial for an act which allegedly prejudices the security of the country or any part thereof. A person could instigate the others through text messages, mouth to mouth, mass media, blogs or e-mails. This preventive detention become a feature of Malaya in 1948 to combat Malayan Communist Party during Malayan Emergency. The emergency ended in 1960. However, the preventive detention was not relinquished and in fact became a Malaysian law.

 

There are multiracial people living in Malaysia. Because we are living together, there will be many races, religions and cultures. Sometimes, there are some sensitive issues which others could not talk furthermore to avoid controversy. However, there are still slight of people who would like to voice out their dissatisfaction to a certain group and make instigation to other people. These will outburst anger to a group of people and lead to demonstration causing riots in a country. Before it happens, we need an immediate action to avoid riots occur in Malaysia just like it had happen fifty years ago during Malayan Emergency. This is when ISA takes place. For an example, member of Parliament from DAP    , Theresa Kok which insist Pusat Urus Zakat (PUZ) to distribute zakat to other religions too. What creates anger for the Muslims is when she is accusing that ‘azan’ at Kinrara Mosque as a noise which disturbing the people at the residential. Before she gone furthermore, ISA had to be used to stop her action from giving worse effect to the society. 

 

Most of the Malaysian hates ISA because they think even though they are living in a democratic country, they still could not voice out their opinion or dissatisfaction to the government or else they will be caught by the ISA. We are free to do anything but bear in mind that democratic country does not mean we are free to do anything that is exceed the limit. Our freedom is a controlled freedom which means that we could not say anything which insulting or instigating other people which resulting negative effect to the country. Other than that, opposition nowadays are different that opposition from previous governance. Previous opposition really helps the government to develop the country to a better level by giving their opinion and voice out Malaysian needs through the parliament. However, nowadays opposition are more to personal issues which could create disunity among Malaysian folks. For example, Hindraf.  The cause is when 5 of their leaders been arrested because they redeem compensation from the British government which they blamed to brought them to Malaya but however said been oppress here. Because of their action instigating other Indians and held a demonstration in front of British Embassy, it had created riots and make the country are no safer. This is when ISA must take place.   

 

People must be wondering why ISA does not have any trial. Why the procedures do not go through the court? ISA is an act which only been used when a person is trying to take an action which could effect to the disunity among the Malaysian. For example, if instigation delinquencies have to go through the court process, the police must first make an observation for a long period to verify the fact the person is trying to incite people, and then they could get a warrant to arrest the person. However, this will take time and at that time, many people have already been brainwashed and would have started to make a demonstration to against government or a group of person. This is why we need ISA. In ISA, people who been arrested will first be investigate. If he or she is innocent, they will be release. However if they are found guilty, a counseling will be given so that they could stop the action.

 

Al-Arqam is another example which taught wrong religious principle. A lot of Muslims in Malaysia had been influenced by Ashaari. This had cause the government so worries about wrong religious principle which been spread to the Muslims. To avoid the wrong teaching being spread to the others, Ashaari had been arrested to ensure Islam teaching been protected. Other example is Al-Maunah who threat to take over Malaysia using terrorism. This had create fear among the Malaysian and this is when ISA been used to take an immediate action before Al-Maunah start from the first place.

As to conclude, we still need ISA for emergency situation. This is the final ways to protect our country from being insecure. We should know that we are not the only country who enforces ISA. United Kingdom, America and Australia are applying this method to ensure peace and unity among its people in their country. Thank you.