ISA: Nuridah defends PAS track record

==KUALA LUMPUR - Islamic Party of Malaysia (PAS) women chief Nuridah Salleh has come out to defend the party's track record in its efforts to repeal "unIslamic" draconian Internal Security Act (ISA), which provided for detention without trial.
Nuridah said the party had struggled to get the ISA repealed "for a long time" and that the late PAS president Datuk Fadzil Noor had played a role in forming the Abolish ISA Movement (GMI).
"He was the first (working committee) chairman for GMI and before the formation of GMI, PAS has been consistent (to oppose the draconian act)," she told English Section when met after a press conference to announce a GMI candle light vigil at Kamunting Camp on June 7, on May 29.
Nuridah said this when asked to comment on the move by Selangor state assembly to pass a motion calling on the ruling National Front federal government led by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Badawi to abolish the ISA.
The Selangor state government is administered by a Pakatan Rakyat coalition led by People's Justice Party (KeADILan) together with the Democratic Action Party (DAP) and PAS.
The non-binding resolution also called on the federal government to release all ISA detainees or for them to be brought to Court.
More Pakatan Rakyat states expected to follow suit
Nuridah also hope that PAS led Pakatan Rakyat states would soon follow suit in the footstep of Selangor.
"May be the idea started in Selangor but this does not mean that PAS has not been on the forefront on this issue, whatever it is we would like to congratulate Selangor state government (on the move)," she said.
Nuridah who is also a GMI working committee member however declined to comment on whether PAS should appoint a senator who is well versed on the issue of ISA and how to get it repealed, to be seen as at the forefront to get the draconian act abolished.
"However we will get more top (PAS) leaders to be involved in (GMI) activities," she said.
GMI working committee chairman Syed Ibrahim Syed Noh said Pakatan Rakyat states like Penang, Perak, Kedah and Kelantan should pass a similar motion to put more pressure on Abdullah.
"We understand that although they don't have the power to repeal (ISA) but the motion is important for the record. The move will become part of history," he said. – Saadon Aksah/ES