Dr M, Anwar wanted to scrap ISA, says ex-IGP

Both Dr Mahathir and Anwar (right) had sought to repeal the ISA, said Hanif today. — Reuters pic

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 17 — Former Inspector-General of Police Tun Hanif Omar claimed today that he had stopped Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and his former deputy, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, from abolishing the ISA.

Hanif, who served as the police chief for 20 years until 1994, said the issue was first raised by Anwar at a security briefing prior to his retirement from the service.

“Anwar said we should abolish ISA, Dr Mahathir said OK,” recounted Hanif at a forum on Parliamentary democracy here.

He said he later urged the two leaders to reconsider their plans, and suggested they merely review the security law.

Hanif also claimed that Dr Mahathir had been consistent in his opposition to the ISA.

“When he became the prime minister, Musa Hitam told me ‘don’t invoke the ISA, Dr Mahathir will not like it’,” said Hanif referring to the former deputy prime minister and home minister in the 1980s.

A total of 106 politicians and activists were detained under the ISA in 1987 when Dr Mahathir was prime minister. His government later removed judicial review from the ISA in 1989.

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