ISA must be repealed, say former detainees

Kuala Lumpur, Dec.14 (ANI): The Internal Security Act (ISA) should be repealed once and for all, former detainees said.

Irene Xavier, a 57-year-old women's rights activist said she was more hopeful now that the Act could be repealed within her lifetime.

She was one of 106 people de-tained during Operasi Lalang in 1987.

"Before 1987, I was convinced that changes were very difficult.

"But the March 2008 general election results were a big surprise and, even though the ISA has not gone, there are now more and more people who are convinced that it is a bad law and has to go," The Star quoted her as saying in an interview at the Amnesty Inter-national Malaysia office here.

Xavier said that upon her release she had to choose whether to continue her struggle to fight for workers' rights and the detention convinced her that she should continue. (ANI)