Hanya tinggal 12 orang sahaja di Kem Tahanan Kamunting ! Mansuhkan ISA, Tutup Kemta !

Semalam, saya dijemput untuk memberikan ceramah di Markaz Pas Kawasan Titiwangsa di Kg Pandan. Program tersebut merupakan program anjuran Dewan Pemuda Pas Pusat khusus untuk memberikan penerangan mengenai akta zalim ISA. Turut hadir ialah sahabat-sahabat saya, Ust Idris Ahmad, Ketua Penerangan Pas yang baru, Tuan Syed Ibrahim, Pengerusi Gerakan Mansuhkan ISA (GMI), Ust Azman Syapawi, Timbalan Ketua Dewan Pemuda Pas Pusat yang baru dan YB Ustaz Nasir, Ahli Parlimen Padang Terap.

Di kesempatan ceramah itu, saya berkongsi dengan hadirin bahawa menurut Menteri “keris” hanya tinggal 12 orang sahaja di Kem Tahanan Kamunting. Justeru, saya mengandaikan bahawa selepas ini berkemungkinan akan ada tahanan-tahanan baru memandangkan kem tersebut telah hampir kosong !

Yang kita persoalkan ialah kenapa undang-undang zalim seperti ISA ini masih diperlukan. Menteri “keris” ketika ditanya apakah pembangkang juga akan dijemput untuk memberikan pandangan dalam meminda ISA, beliau menjawab, tidak perlu memandangkan pembangkang tidak matang dan tidak rasional di dalam isu ISA ini.

Pada hemat saya prinsipnya mudah. Unjust law is not law. Undang-undang yang tidak memberikan keadilan bukannya undang-undang. Nah, kenapa nampaknya kerajaan begitu bersungguh-sungguh untuk mempertahankan unjust law ini sekiranya mereka tidak mempunyai motif politik tertentu ? Apakah unjust law ini merupakan satu cara yang ampuh bagi mengekang kemaraan pembangkang ? Apakah unjust law ini mampu memberikan legitimasi kepada kerajaan sedia ada sekiranya diperlukan kelak ? Atau apakah unjust law ini akan menjadi senjata yang efektif dan berkesan di dalam mempertahankan kekuasaan PM Najib ?

Inilah persoalan-persoalan utama yang sering menjadi kemusykilan rakyat. Ketika dijemput sebagai Astro baru-baru ini di dalam membahaskan isu ISA, saya konsisten dengan prinsip ‘adalah (keadilan) yang tiada di dalam ISA ini. Elok kita tanyakan Mufti Perak yang baru mendapat gelaran Tan Sri apakah boleh di tahan seseorang tanpa bicara di dalam Islam. Kalau boleh, tolong beritahu apa syarahnya dan di kitab yang mana ?

Shamsul Iskandar

Only 12 ISA detainees left in Kamunting: Hishammuddin
Husna Yusop and Giam Say Khoon

KUALA LUMPUR (June 25, 2009): There are only 12 Internal Security Act (ISA) detainees left in Kamunting, comprising six Malaysians and six foreigners, says Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein.

He said eight of them were still under detention for involvement in miltant activities and the others for forging documents. Hishammuddin said since 2004, 100 individuals were detained under the ISA for forging of documents (29), duplication of RM1 coins (17) and involvement in Hindraf five), Darul Islam (17), Jemaah Islamiah (18) and Malaysian Militant Group (one).

Others were also cases of producing writings that insulted Islam (one), smuggling of illegal immigrants (one), acting as foreign intelligence agents (seven), Southern Thai Separatist Movement (three) and nuclear component supplier (one).

Replying to questions from Datuk Mohd Jidin Safee (BN-Setiu) and Siti Zailah Mohd Yusoff (PAS-Rantau Panjang), Hishammuddin said several political party leaders were also detained under the ISA.
“However, the government would like to stress here this was not based on political offence or agenda. It was based on the individuals’ activities which threatened the country’s security and public order,” he said.
To a supplementary question from Dr Lo’ Lo’ Mohd Ghazali, Hishammuddin said cases involving terrorists or militants, with extensive global networking, could not be solved within days.

“The Opposition MPs should not twist the facts. Our investigations, including the witnesses we questioned, cannot be exposed to the public, otherwise, it will affect their safety.

“Do not simply accuse us. What the Barisan Nasional (BN) government is doing is actually for your own good, to take care of the safety of the MPs here too,” he said, adding Lo’ Lo’ can raise any specific case in the Dewan and she will get the replies.

Lo’ Lo’, in her question, said Opposition members were also placed under the ISA although they were not involved in the alleged activities, adding one of them had yet to be released probably due to his wife’s active involvement in the Abolish ISA Movement.

“If the government has proof of their activities, they should be tried in court and be given a chance to defend themselves,” she added. Hishammuddin said the ministry was reviewing the laws under its purview, including the ISA, and as long as they have yet to be amended, the existing laws remain.

The amendments would deal with four aspects namely, the 60-day-long detention, appointment of independent investigating officer, the list of threats and limiting the length of detention extension order.
Later in Parliament lobby, Hishammuddin said amendments to the ISA would be tabled in Parliament’s next session, followed by other outdated laws under the ministry.

“We have 33 Acts governing the (home) minister’s power. And we have old laws like the Restricted Residence Act 1933, Explosives Act 1957, Corrosive and Explosive Substances and Offensive Weapons Act 1958 and Second Hand Dealers Act 1946.

“These were necessary in those days. They were drafted during the confrontation era and emergency period when the main threat was the communists,” he said.

Hishammuddin said the government was seriously listening to the stakeholders when reviewing the laws to suit current needs. Asked whether Opposition members would also be invited to contribute their views, he said: “They should just give me their proposals because I am worried they may lack maturity and rationale in their views.”