Union of Catholic Asian News (http://www.ucanews.com)
Religions take aim at Malaysian security law , 23 November 2010
by C.Y. Lai, Penang
Representatives of Malaysia’s main religions have spoken against a law allowing indefinite detention without trial at an event marking the 50th anniversary of the enactment of the Internal Security Act (ISA).
Chrisanne Chin, youth moderator of the Council of Churches Malaysia, argues that although Christians support the government in its efforts to instill peace in the country, “the ISA has been abused.”
Chin represented Christians at a forum entitled How Do Religions View ISA? held on Nov. 21, one of several activities organized by a coalition of NGOs in Penang. Other speakers at the interreligious forum represented Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam and Taoism.
Chin added that the ISA should be abolished and replaced with an Anti-Terrorism Act, which Christians can support.
Saari Sungib, an assemblyman and a founding member of an Islamic NGO, asserted that the ISA is a gross violation of human dignity.
Speaking from his own experience of being detained under ISA twice, he said he endured being stripped naked, spat and urinated at during detention.
“Islam forbids a person to be humiliated,” Saari insisted. “And Islam cannot accept a person to be punished without fair trial. Therefore, it is obvious that Islam opposes ISA.”
“ISA is harmful, selfish and does not follow the law of dharma at all,” added Bala Tharmalingam, national deputy president of the Malaysia Hindu Sangam.
Meanwhile, Chong Hung Wang, adviser of the Young Buddhist Association of Malaysia, described the ISA as “cruel” and “a violation of human rights.”
“We Buddhists support fighting crime but you can’t fight crime through cruel means. The government must go through the proper channel, where justice prevails on both sides,” he said.
Among other events that day included another forum entitled ISA – Political Tool for Oppression, a book launch and concert. However, a group of so-called pro-ISA citizens disrupted the event’s opening.
The ISA was enacted in 1960 to counter the communist threat to the then newly-independent country of Malaya. Since then, various sectors have accused the government of abusing the law to suppress political opposition.
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