KOTA KINABALU: The Internal Security Act (ISA) is still relevant in Malaysia as it helps to keep the people together, according to Sabah Police Commissioner Datuk Noor Rashid.
Datuk Noor Rashid
“ISA helps to prevent any kind of threats that could jeopardise the sovereignty of the country and the unity among the people who come from different ethnic groups and backgrounds.
“I would like the leaders of tomorrow to bear in mind that I accept the implementation of ISA to stay. The nation still needs it, especially now with Malaysia moving towards globalisation and a developed country status,” he said.
Noor Rashid was speaking at the presentation of appointment certificate of Universiti Malaysia Sabah’s Kor Suksis commander to Associate Professor Dr Kasim Mansur with the title of Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) at the university yesterday.
ISA was enacted in the 1960s which allows for detention without trial or criminal charges under limited, legally defined circumstance.
The government is in the final stages of revising the ISA, where Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein said when it was first enacted to combat communism, while today, the threats are militant networks and extremist movements.
On another development, Noor Rashid said the Royal Malaysian Police has gone through a lot since its inception 203 years ago.
“With just a small group of personnel, we faced the World War II, communists, and after the independence in 1957 and 1963, there was the racial tension and in the 1985, extremist groups came in … today, we are moving towards a developing country era which will bring new challenges, so we have to be prepared for it all,” he said.
The police, he added, are also very transparent and welcome any criticism from the people.
“We appreciate cooperation from all, be it from the younger generation or experts and researchers on ways and methods to overcome social ills in the society. We are ready to discuss and implement if we feel the idea is suitable.
“Our mission is to ensure the people will live in peace and harmony,” he said.
The police, he said, have also done their own homework.
“We did some research on the profile of criminals and we found that most of them are uneducated or did not go through proper education. So, we must do something to prevent this from happening,” he said.
He believes that Suksis will be able to produce disciplined and dedicated graduates, and he hopes they will expand the knowledge gained to their peers.
Also present at the event was UMS vice chancellor Datuk Seri Panglima Professor Dr Kamaruzaman Ampon.