PUTRAJAYA (Feb 9, 2010): The amendments to the Internal Security Act (ISA), will be tabled and debated in the Dewab Rakyat during the next session which will start on March 15.

Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein said the draft of the amendments, involving five points, was now being studied by the Attorney-General’s Chambers before being brought to the cabinet for final approval.

"In the amendments, we are thinking of ways to come up with a mechanism how best to address the five factors which have been the cause of concern of everyone all these while.

"This is so that they can let go of their worries and it will not affect the running and effectiveness of this act," he said at his ministry here today.

The five factors as have been announced before were the powers of minister, detention period, rights of a detainee, public perception that ISA was used for political reason and detention without trial.

Hishammuddin said all amendments were done after taking into consideration views and feedback from the related stakeholders.

Earlier, he chaired a meeting on ISA Amendments Briefing which was also attended by Information, Communication and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim and Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Mohd Nazri Aziz.

Hishammuddin also said the government is not using the ISA for political purposes but to ensure country’s security and safety.

This was proven recently when certain incidents in the country have prompted some people to call upon the authorities to apply the ISA against those involved.

"What had happened recently, more or less, has a blessing in disguise, like in the issues involving the Rulers, religion and race.

"Those who had previously called for the ISA to be abolished have now asked for action to be taken under the ISA against these people," he said when asked to comment on public perception that ISA has been used for political motives. -- theSun