DR MOHD SAFAR HASIM

Cattleya: First bloom from my mini garden If all people can be as pure as this orchid, I think laws are irrelevant. Abolish ISA Movement has a new supporter in Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, former Prime Minister of Malaysia. This is perhaps the strongest voice yet in support of abolising the law seen by many as very restrictive and draconian. No doubt the Government will take due cognizance of this new support. But the reality is whether the law, a remnant of the Malayan Emergency, is still relevant in the present circumstances. The recent Jakarta bombing of two international hotels will not go unnoticed by the Government and rightly so. In principle, I believe, under the present circumstances, many would agree that the law should remain but some amendments have to be made to the law to reduce its "harshness". Prof Reginald Hugh Hickling, when he was at the AG Chambers, was responsible for drafting the ISA when Malaya wanted to end the 12-year Malayan Emergency i...