Almost all Malaysians has a view on the ISA. The former Law Minister although resigning because of his protest against the “reckless” (my words) use of the ISA against civilians but qualified his disgust for the ISA by saying that “the Act should only be used against terrorists or those trying to topple the Government by force“
So, while he is lauded for sticking to his principles and resigning over the use of the ISA against civilians, some missed the part about him not exactly being against the ISA but only for it to be used in a specific manner.
I have always struggled with the ISA too. I understand the objectives i.e. exactly what the former Law Minister’s says it should be used against. That is probably one thing that I agree with him 
But how does one decide that the particular individual is a terrorist that is hell bent on trying to topple the Government by force? That’s the tricky part. Opponents of the ISA says that should be left to the Courts to decide. Factually, that statement is fair and true. Supporters of the ISA says that it is a preventive measure. I am not sure it is factually true and fair although there is also logic to it. Thus the dilemma.
I have to be honest that I am inclined towards the “preventive” logic. But I also appreciate and understand the arguments raised against it.
When one reads the case of one ISA detainee Mat Sah who missed 6 years of his only child and son growing up, I have to ponder. Being a father myself, I can relate to the situation of the family. Just looking at the Raya greeting card pains me. I am sure others would feel the same too. Also, I remembered reading another case of an ISA detainee who did not managed to see her daughter before she passed away.
When opponents of the ISA says that it is cruel, who am I to say that it is not when I consider the two cases above.
My issue is that I still think it is a good preventive measure. Its intention is “noble”. Probably its implementation has been misused. At the very least, it should be reviewed. In the end, every man and woman deserves his or her day in Court. Even the worst mass murderers gets one. The ISA detainees should be given one too.
