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Perkasa's Ibrahim Ali proposes ISA-like legislation for corrupt public figures

KUALA LUMPUR: Two-time former Internal Security Act (ISA) detainee Datuk Ibrahim Ali is proposing an Anti-Economic Saboteurs Act to allow for the detention of corrupt public figures for at least 60 days without a court order.

The Perkasa president said he will raise the proposal in his policy speech at the party’s annual general meeting on Sunday, and then bring the matter up as a resolution to the government.

He said the act would be similar in mechanics to the ISA, wherein the police and MACC would be allowed to detain a person suspected of having taken bribes amounting to more than RM1 million.

“Corruption and abuse of power is so widespread. It is not just limited to politicians, but high-ranking government officers and those working in government-linked companies (GLCs), it is happening everywhere.

“You see it from the purchase of properties by Mara in Melbourne, graft involving the City Hall officer and the (over) RM100 million (seizures of cash and assets from high ranking officers) in Sabah.

“And two days ago, a Datuk from a GLC had RM39 million seized from him,” said Ibrahim in a press conference here today.

He said the practice is obvious judging by the extravagant lifestyles that sometimes even pensioners live, and likened it to an act of sabotage, threatening national security.

“People get angry, so if there are delays in action, they will revolt and this, too, threatens national security,” he said, adding that enforcement officers are usually hampered by the process of getting remands and extending it up to a week for the purpose of investigation.

He said that many white collar criminals, including Eric Chia of Perwaja Steel, had escaped the full force of the law due to delays caused by investigation procedures.

On another issue, Ibrahim distanced himself from Red Shirts leader Datuk Jamal Yunos, who intends for his followers to gather on Nov 19 in Kuala Lumpur as a show of opposition against Bersih.

He called the press not to equate Jamal, a former Perkasa leader, with the party, adding that he and Jamal were not on the same level.

Ibrahim also distanced himself from former prime minister Tun Mahathir Mohamad, saying that he still looked up to the latter, but that they have differences of opinion.

He, however, stressed that those who break the law and gather without police approval would have to face the consequences.

Ibrahim also called on the police to allow Perkasa delegates headed to their wing meetings at the Regency Hotel in Kampung Baru on Saturday to be allowed to pass through road blocks by simply showing the authorities their invitations.

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