JOINT PRESS STATEMENT: AUGUST 1ST., 2000
40 YEARS IS ENOUGH!
ABOLISH THE ISA NOW!

Forty years ago, on Aug 1, 1960, an Act so called to provide for the internal security of Malaysia, preventative detention, the
prevention of subversion, the suppression of organised violence against persons and property in specified areas of Malaysia
was enacted. The Act was called the Internal Security Act (ISA), 1960. This Act was indeed a continuation of an earlier Act
which also provides for detention without trial, The Emergency Act, 1948.

Since then, thousands of our people of all races, religions and walks of life have been detained under this draconian Act which
allows for detention without trial.

The Act has been used by all the prime ministers. In the 1960s, it was used on the labour movement and political opposition. In
the 1970s, besides trade unionists and political Activists, the Act was also used against Active student movements, lecturers
and religious groups. In the 1980s, under the code name Operasi Lallang, the Act was used against opposition leaders,
academicians and religious, social, and environmental Activists. In the 1990s, it was used on the Al-Arqam movement and on
the reformasi movement calling for reform in Malaysia.

The ISA is still used today and in the past few weeks, a number of people allegedly linked to the Al-Ma'unah group were
detained under it. The ISA is also used on cases such as fabrication of identity cards, etc. Furthermore the threat of using the
ISA is often used to squash public opinion and debate.

We, the undersigned organisations, today in conjunction with the 40th anniversary of this draconian Act, call for the repeal of
the Internal Security Act and other laws which provide for detention without trial.

We are against the ISA because:

1. The ISA violates fundamental rights. The ISA provides for "preventative
detention" without trial for an indefinite period. This goes against the
principles of justice and undermines the rule of law.

2. The ISA goes against the right of a person to defend himself in an open and fair trial. The person is incarcerated for 60 days
of interrogation without access to lawyers. A person is presumed innocent till proven guilty but under the ISA the person
deemed guilty until she/he toes the line of the government of the day.
 

3. The ISA is immoral and cruel. It condones torture and humiliation. It is
opposed by all major religions practiced in Malaysia.

4. The ISA has been consistently used against people who criticise the
government and defend human rights. It has been the most convenient tool for the state to suppress opposition to it. The Act is
an instrument maintained by the government to control our public life and civil society.

5. There is no need for the ISA because there are existing laws under which a person can be tried and convicted.

We, the undersigned organisations, in conjunction with the 40th anniversary of
the Internal Security Act, call for the following:

1. The repeal of the Internal Security Act 1960 and all other laws which
provide for detention without trial.

2. The release of all detainees held under the ISA and other similar laws or
have them charged in open court for any alleged offences.

3. An independent inquiry on those who have been tortured and abused under ISA previously and compensate them and their
family accordingly.

40 YEAR IS ENOUGH!
ABOLISH ISA NOW!

The Memorandum is signed by:
1. Alaigal
2. Aliran Kesedaran Negara (ALIRAN)
3. All Women's Action Society (AWAM)
4. Amnesty International Malaysia (AI)
5. Angkatan Belia Islam Malaysia (ABIM)
6. Bar Council Legal Aid Centre (Kuala Lumpur)
7. Borneo Resources Institute Malaysia Sarawak (BRIMAS)
8. Catholic Research Centre (CRC)
9. Centre for Orang Asli Concerns (COAC)
10. Child Development Initiative
11. Civil Rights Committee (Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall)
12. Community Development Centre (CDC)
13. Democratic Action Party (DAP) Malaysia
14. Education and Research Association for Consumer (ERA Consumer)
15. Ex ISA Detainees Group
16. Federation of Malaysian Consumer Association (FOMCA)
17. Ideal Times
18. Indigenous People's Development Centre (IPDC)
19. Inisiatif Manifesto Rakyat(PMI)
20. Institute for Social Analysis (INSAN)
21. International Movement for Just World (JUST)
22. Jawatankuasa Bertindak Media (JKBM)
23. Jawatankuasa Sokongan Masyarakat Ladang (JSML)
24. Jawatankuasa Sokongan Peneroka Bandar (JSPB)
25. Jawatankuasa Sokongan Peneroka Bandar Johor (JSPB Johor)
26. Kumpulan Kemajuan Masyarakat (KKM)
27. Labor Resource Centre (LRC)
28. Majlis Graduan Negara (MGN)
29. Malaysia Democratic Student and Youth Movement (DEMA)
30. Malaysia Local Democracy Initiative (MALODI)
31. Malaysian Trade Union Congress (MTUC)
32. Metal Industry Employees of Malaysia (MIEU)
33. National Human Rights Society of Malaysia (Persatuan HAKAM)
34. National Union Of Malaysia Muslim Students (PKPIM)
35. Pahang Association of Consumers (PAC)
36. Parti Islam SeMalaysia (PAS)
37. Parti Keadilan Nasional (PKN)
38. Parti Rakyat Malaysia (PRM)
39. Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM)
40. Partners of Community Organisation, Sabah (PACOS)
41. Penang Organic Farm
42. People are the Bosses
43. People Service Organisation (PSO)
44. Perak Consumer Association (PSA)
45. Persatuan Masyarakat Selangor dan Wilayah Perseketuan (PERMAS)
46. Persatuan Sahabat Wanita Selangor (PSWS)
47. Pertubuhan Jamaah Islah Malaysia (JIM)
48. Pusat Komunikasi Masyarakat (KOMAS)
49. Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall (Youth Section)
50. Semparuthi Iyakkam
51. Sisters of Islam (SIS)
52. Society of Christian Reflections (SCR)
53. SOS (Save Ourselves)
54. SOS Selangor (Save Our Sungai Selangor)
55. Suara Rakyat Malaysia (SUARAM)
56. Suara Warga Pertiwi (SWP)
57. Tamil Support Group for Human rights
58. Tenaganita
59. Tholilaliyin Tholar (Sahabat Pekerja/Friends of Workers)
60. United Chinese School Committees' Association of Malaysia
61. United Chinese School Teachers' Association of Malaysia
62. Women Aid Organisation (WAO)
63. Women Candidate Initiative (WCI)
64. Women Crisis Centre (WCC)
65 Women's Development Collective (WDC)
66 Malaysian Chinese Organisers Election Appeal Committee
67 Gabungan Mahasiswa Islam (GAMIS)
68 Sumber Daya Guaman Rakyat (DAGRA)
69 Women Agenda For Change
 

Suara Rakyat Malaysia (SUARAM)
add: 383, 1ST FLOOR, JALAN 5/59, PETALING GARDENS
46000 PETALING JAYA, SELANGOR, MALAYSIA
tel: 60-3-77843525 fax: 77843526
email: suaram@geocities.com website:http://www.suaram.org (temp. off site)