The Star
By SARBAN SINGH
Hishammuddin said the MIC had raised the matter before and the Government had made it clear that the facility was needed to rehabilitate those who flouted the law.
“It does not mean that if you are in the Barisan Nasional family, you can continuously harp on such matters...there is a reason why the facility was set up,” he added.
Hishammuddin was responding to the latest statement by MIC president Datuk Seri S Samy Vellu calling on the Government to close the facility as it had outlived and probably deviated from its purpose of rehabilitating inmates.
Samy Vellu claimed that the detention camp, built in 1986, had become a breeding ground for criminals, especially among the Indians and that several non-governmental organisations also wanted it to be closed.
The camp, among others, houses detainees held under the Emergency Ordinance and the Dangerous Drugs (Special Preventive Measures) Act 1985, as well as convicts and remand prisoners.
Samy Vellu also claimed that the camp was overcrowded and the inmates living in filthy conditions.
Hishammuddin said he welcomed constructive criticism but would not entertain claims made based on race or religion.
“I had said this many times before...we cannot use the racial card to gain sympathy or support. The MIC should not make this a fodder for support,” he said.
On a separate matter, Hishammuddin said his meetings with the concerned parties over the proposed amendments to the Internal Security Act had been positive.
“There has been a consensus on five main issues and I must say the deliberations have been positive,” he said.
The five pertinent points are the powers of the minister, the ISA being used to silence rival politicians, the treatment of detainees, the detention period and detention without trial.
“We hope to wrap these up soon and have it tabled, debated and passed in the next Parliament sitting,” he added.
By SARBAN SINGH
SEREMBAN: The Government will not close down the Simpang Renggam detention camp in Johor despite numerous calls by the MIC for it to do so, said Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein.
He said there was no reason to shut down the facility as it was built for a purpose and “definitely not” to persecute any particular race.
“Those who violate the law are guilty. They are sent to the facility for a reason and not because of the colour of their skin or their political ideology.
“The MIC should stop playing politics and not harp on sentiments,” he told reporters here Friday.
He said there was no reason to shut down the facility as it was built for a purpose and “definitely not” to persecute any particular race.
“Those who violate the law are guilty. They are sent to the facility for a reason and not because of the colour of their skin or their political ideology.
“The MIC should stop playing politics and not harp on sentiments,” he told reporters here Friday.
Hishammuddin said the MIC had raised the matter before and the Government had made it clear that the facility was needed to rehabilitate those who flouted the law.
“It does not mean that if you are in the Barisan Nasional family, you can continuously harp on such matters...there is a reason why the facility was set up,” he added.
Hishammuddin was responding to the latest statement by MIC president Datuk Seri S Samy Vellu calling on the Government to close the facility as it had outlived and probably deviated from its purpose of rehabilitating inmates.
Samy Vellu claimed that the detention camp, built in 1986, had become a breeding ground for criminals, especially among the Indians and that several non-governmental organisations also wanted it to be closed.
The camp, among others, houses detainees held under the Emergency Ordinance and the Dangerous Drugs (Special Preventive Measures) Act 1985, as well as convicts and remand prisoners.
Samy Vellu also claimed that the camp was overcrowded and the inmates living in filthy conditions.
Hishammuddin said he welcomed constructive criticism but would not entertain claims made based on race or religion.
“I had said this many times before...we cannot use the racial card to gain sympathy or support. The MIC should not make this a fodder for support,” he said.
On a separate matter, Hishammuddin said his meetings with the concerned parties over the proposed amendments to the Internal Security Act had been positive.
“There has been a consensus on five main issues and I must say the deliberations have been positive,” he said.
The five pertinent points are the powers of the minister, the ISA being used to silence rival politicians, the treatment of detainees, the detention period and detention without trial.
“We hope to wrap these up soon and have it tabled, debated and passed in the next Parliament sitting,” he added.
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