PUTRAJAYA: The Ministry of Home Affairs will strike a balance between the rights of an individual and the rights of the majority when conducting a comprehensive review on the Internal Security Act (ISA), said its new minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein.
 
He said the ministry would among others consult the stakeholders and non-governmental organisations when reviewing the ISA, adding that the appointment of an independent committee to supervise such a review was not necessary.
 
"There are 40 statutes under my purview and ISA will be one of those that we will be looking at," he told a press conference after a briefing with the Home Ministry officials today.
 
Hishammuddin's predecessor Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar will officially hand over the Home Ministry's duties to him Wednesday.
 
According to Hishammuddin, the Home Ministry would give priority to national interest and national safety when reviewing the ISA, stressing that it would also need to make sure a review on the ISA would not be in conflict with other statutes which empowers detention without trial.
 
"If we feel that circumstances today allows us to re-look at some of the provisions, then those would be the aspects I'll be dealing with," he said when asked which areas under the ISA provision which would be reviewed.
 
He pointed out that there was no deadline fixed by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak on the ISA review, noting that any changes to the ISA following a review would neither jeopardise the nation's ability to move forward nor affect the unity and harmony in the years following independence.
 
On the "boycott" by 10 Barisan Nasional (BN) Terengganu state assemblymen from today's sitting, Hishammuddin called on all BN assemblymen in the east coast state to close ranks and together with the new cabinet, work to fulfill the aspiration of the people.
 
"The Umno deputy president and three vice presidents are monitoring the situation in Terengganu closely," he said adding that the issue could be resolved in the best possible manner through the help of new leaders following the recent Umno party polls.
 
Asked whether there would be a review on the media laws, he replied: "This is also part of the 40 statues under my purview. Give me time to think about it."
 
Touching on the teaching of science and mathematics in English, the former education minister said a report on the matter has been concluded before the announcement on the new cabinet line-up.

He said the documents on the matter has been forwarded to the new Education Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, who will in turn brief his team before a recommendation be made to the cabinet.
 
"At the end of the day, I will still have a say in it as it will be brought up in a cabinet meeting," Hishammuddin added.