A more lenient ISA, rallies without permits (MalaysiaKini.com)

(MalaysiaKini) Amendments to the Internal Security Act and the Police Act, especially on the right to hold assemblies, will be tabled in the October Parliament sitting and if possible approved in the December sitting.

Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein, in revealing this today, however said the government will be holding discussions with all stakeholders before that.

Hishammuddin also revealed that the other Acts that will be amended will include the Multimedia and Communications Act, the Restrictive Residence Ordinance and the Emergency Ordinance. The minister said this after a meeting attended by two other ministers, Attorney-General Gani Patail, Inspector-General of Police Musa Hassan and a host of representatives from other relevant government agencies, at the home ministry here.

The other two ministers were Information Communication and Culture Minister Rais Yatim and Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Nazri Aziz.

Hishammuddin said the coordination committee on the ISA and media control among the three ministries would meet again next week to fine-tune their proposals.

"Then, hopefully, we would meet all the relevant people to explain the amendments. Hopefully, at the next Parliament sitting in October, we would table all the amendments to all the acts for first reading.

"If this is on schedule, then we would debate the amendments at the Parliament sitting after the next, which would be at the end of the year," he added.

Reducing the detention period

On the ISA, he said that the government had no intention of abolishing it but will make changes to incorporate more checks and balance to the Act.

He said the government's intention was to ensure ISA was not abused for political gains.

"There's many allegation that ISA is used for political reason. We've never said that there has been used that way but today the landscape is all about perception.

"If you demonise the ISA to that nature, people tend to believe it... if not through the main media, (but) there's the alternative media and we have to make sure we're transparent enough.

"We must make sure the check and balances exists so the public realises that these allegations are not only not true but there's no opportunity for abuse," he added.

He added that the changes proposed would include shorter detention period (presently it is for two-years without trial) and to make it more applicable to deter terrorism and not against politicians.

"We are also thinking of reducing the 60-day detention period. The public should know that this Act had been overly politicised although it is relevant for national security," he added.

Asked if the ISA would be re-named, he said the committee had yet to decide on that.

However he stressed that the Act was still needed to protect the national security and the rights of the majority.

"I personally feel statute like ISA should have some form of provisions but not to the extent that it can be abused for personal gain and for political gain," he added.

Curbing lies on the Internet

On the freedom to hold assemblies, the home minister said the proposed amendments to the Police Act will include a relook at the Section 27 provision which requires prior police permission before any gatherings.

Rais, who was at the press conference, added that the government would look into allowing peaceful assemblies to take place in certain gazetted places.

Places such as stadiums or "corner of the town" would be considered, said Rais.

Hishammuddin also said that the government wanted to curb lies and allegations in the Internet.

"Apart from these Acts which we intend to amend, we also discussed how to increase cooperation between the authorities like the Multimedia Commission and the police to curb lies and allegations spread over the Internet.

"While we respect the freedom of speech and expression, we must also safeguard the interest of the majority at large...we need to come up with a new way for this," said Hishammuddin.

Hishammuddin also reiterated that the government would not filter or censor the Internet but ensure only credible information was spread through the new media.

"It is not censorship. We are talking about looking at laws and how laws which are there to protect the public and the public interest and use the agencies that are responsible to ensure stability and safety and harmony... no censorship at all," he added.

However he said that the government will block websites and blogs that breached the laws and prosecute those who spread lies, seditious comments and porn.

[With additional reporting from Bernama]