R1c
I am very concerned by the arrest of the four Singaporeans under the ISA (Internal Security Act). I read and re-read and the more i read, the more concerned I become. I feel that it is wrong for this four people to be detained under ISA.
I know ISA was created a long time ago. I found this from here.
An Act to provide for the internal security of Singapore, preventive detention, the prevention of subversion, the suppression of organised violence against persons and property in specified areas of Singapore, and for matters incidental thereto.
[16th September 1963]
Whereas action has been taken by a substantial body of persons to cause a substantial number of citizens to fear organised violence against persons and property:
And Whereas action has been taken and threatened by a substantial body of persons which is prejudicial to the security of Malaya:
And Whereas Parliament considers if necessary to stop or prevent that action:
You see this part…..”prevention of subversion, the suppression of organised violence against persons and property in specified areas of Singapore, and for matters incidental thereto.”
In Singapore. Where did all these people go? They were overseas or on the way overseas. 3 of them were in Yemen and the Chinese guy was on the way to Syria. Which part of Yemen or Syria is in Singapore?
I am not condoning what they have done or saying that they should not have been arrested. However, i feel that what they do is not covered under ISA. Am I correct to say that? So far MHA hasn’t mentioned that the four of them wanted to carry out attacks in Singapore. They did not carry a direct threat to Singapore. So why were they detained under the ISA?
It is different last time with the JI (Jemaah Islamyah). JI very clear cut want to carry out attacks in Singapore…Yishun MRT was one of the places right? Even if JI targeted foreigners, Singaporeans would also become victims. Lives were at stake and properties would have been damaged.
The communists were also like that. People lost their lives during a period of sustained turmoil. Singapore become topsy-turvy because of the communists. They were subverting unions and students and it was chaos. In this case, it was appropriate for the perpetrators to be dealt with using the ISA. It is very clear-cut.
But I disagree that they use ISA for these four people.
I urge the authorities to stop their crutch-mentality with the ISA. Cannot everything also use ISA.
ISA is draconian and is not in keeping with current situations. What they should do is review the ISA immediately. If they want to stop Singaporeans from fighting overseas, they must enact new laws which are effective and whose scope covers the acts carried out by the four people.
Isa
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