To the few who support the use of the Internal Security Act (ISA), supposedly peace-loving people who say this law is useful in clamping down riot-happy individuals, I ask them to think again.

One, for the sake of human compassion. Imagine being separated from your family, not knowing their whereabouts and worrying over the likelihood that they are being tortured during the 'turning over' process - this is not something I would wish even for my enemies, tempting though the thought that the ISA should be used against the torturers themselves and the master Supremo too.

Secondly, for the sake of the nation, checks and balances are required so that this nation does not become a police state, with intimidation and bullying by the state's apparatus on the orders of a few. Innocent victims could be wrongly prosecuted because there is no need for proper evidence in an arrest.

Thirdly, as someone once said, peace is not the absence of war, but the presence of justice. I contend that we are more fear-driven creatures than peace-loving creatures.

Let's admit it, how many of us speak in riddles or break into a spate of Cantonese when we are on the phone and trying to relate the latest political events because Bukit Aman may be listening. Or do we not drop into a whisper when we speak to our friends about political events while we hang about at the kopi tiam . It is truly sad that after 44 years of independence our nation lives in fear not of our colonial masters or cruel Japanese army but of the government and its 'peace-keeping' regiment.

True peace however is when the people are allowed to speak their mind and there is still respect for one another - because ultimately we all abide by the constitution that is sacredly protected by the Justice of Peace.

Therefore, for all those who have spoken in support of the ISA, please know what you are speaking in favour of. It is not a necessary evil, it is plain evil.