KUALA LUMPUR: Defence Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said it was impossible for the Internal Security Act (ISA) to be abolished but it could be amended or its name to be changed to be more appropriate with current times.

He said the country needed laws like the ISA, that could allow a person to be questioned before a matter or case could be taken to court, as well as needing other laws.

"Don't just look to our country only. See our neighbours or other countries. They too have laws more or less like ours or more stricter. "The act is meant to enure economic and political stability so that there are no problems related to religion, race and culture and this is what the government stresses," he told reporters after officiating a political speeches course organised by the Cheras Umno division here today.

Commenting on the gatherings in the city today by the Abolish the ISA movement (GMI) and the Majlis Permuafakatan Ummah (Perwaris), together with Pertubuhan Pribumi Perkasa Malaysia (Perkasa), which wanted the ISA to be retained, Ahmad Zahid people should not be afraid of the ISA if they had not done anything wrong.

"I speak from my experience in 1988. Although I was detained under the ISA I accepted the situation. When I was questioned and investigated I was of the opinion that the police did their job profesionally," said Ahmad Zahid.

At the same function, Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department, Ahmad Maslan, said the Opposition merely wanted an opportunity to have a demonstration even when they knew that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak would review the ISA.

"Actually they should give their views wisely, in writing, using facts if they wanted to make any suggestions, not by troubling the people, till the roads are jammed," he said. -- Bernama