PUTRAJAYA: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said his administration would not use the Internal Security Act (ISA) arbitrarily but would give importance to human rights and civil liberties.
He said the ISA was undergoing a review to ensure that it incorporates several provisions that upholds these principles.
“Several provisions (of the ISA) will reflect our (the Government’s) intention to uphold civil liberties and establish checks and balance so that the ISA is not used arbitrarily or according to the whims of the authorities without regard for the fundamental rights and civil liberties of the people of Malaysia,” he told a group of journalists from Indo nesia yesterday at his office here.
The journalists, who had arrived to attend the Malaysian Press Awards event of the Malaysian Press Institute in Kuala Lumpur on Monday night, were the first group of foreign journalists to interview Najib after his elevation as Prime Minister last Friday.
Najib said his decision to release 13 ISA detainees recently was a government gesture that gave importance to the fundamental rights and civil liberties in a modern, mature and civilised society.
At the interview, Najib was asked about his style of administration, Malaysia-Indo nesia bilateral relations, regional security, press freedom in Malaysia and the role of the two prime ministers before him, among other things.
Touching on the philosophy behind the “One Malaysia. People First. Performance Now” concept, which he announced soon after becoming the Prime Minister, Najib said it was “the overarching philosophy” behind the administration he helmed.
He explained that it emphasised what should be done from now to spur the nation towards realising the objectives and vision set by the two prime ministers before him, which were to enable the people achieve “excellence, glory and distinction” and realise Vision 2020 to become a developed nation.
Najib also said he wanted to be the prime minister for all of the people and he would be fair, that he would not want to be seen as favouring any ethnic group.
Touching on freedom in a democratic system, Najib said Malaysia was liberal and practised freedom with responsibility
