Zaid, who is putting his job on the line, said the ISA should be used only against those who truly posed a threat to national security, such as terrorists.

The outspoken lawyer and former Kota Baru MP said that by using the ISA against blogger Raja Petra Kamaruddin and Seputeh member of parliament and Selangor executive councillor Teresa Kok, the government was acting against its own wish to prove to the people it wanted change.

While expressing his relief that the third detainee, Sin Chew Daily reporter Tan Hoon Cheng, was released on Saturday and his hope for the quick release of the other two, Zaid said the government should have used the process of the law to investigate them.

And knowing that his views might be out of sync with the rest of the administration, Zaid said at his home in Jalan Pasir Hor here yesterday that he was ready to resign if he was asked to by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

"My view has always been that the ISA should be used only on armed terrorists who want to topple the government by force.

"The ISA was created by the British to be used against the communists.

"This government should be a government of law based on principles and rules. If we use the ISA this way, we are showing that we are reverting to the old ways.

"If Raja Petra or Teresa Kok had done something wrong, then use laws like the Sedition Act or the Defamation Act or the Penal Code."

Zaid pointed out that many people, including senior politician bloggers, had written articles which could be deemed as seditious yet they did not face any consequences.

"The ISA is open to abuse. If we cannot be fair in implementing it, then we should confine its use to terrorists."

He said the government should allow the police or the military to investigate racially sensitive cases or those which posed a threat to national security.

"If we have to use the ISA to detain people, it shows that we have no confidence in our enforcement agencies."

Zaid said he had offered to resign because he did not want to become a burden to Abdullah.

"I joined the government because I believe there would be transformation. The government must change but reform cannot take place if it continues with the old thinking and old philosophies.

"My views are obviously against the majority in the cabinet. I have been in trouble before and I don't want to make life difficult for Pak Lah.

"I will try to see him this week and if he feels that I am a problem to the party and the government, and he wants me to leave, I am prepared to do so.

"I don't want to be disloyal and I am thankful to him for giving me a chance to serve in the government. I want to give my best to Pak Lah and this is the best advice I could give him."

For those who defended the use of the ISA, Zaid said it was a harsh law which did not offer the detainee a chance for trial.

"People who say the ISA is still relevant do not know what it is like to be detained without proof or trial. They have not gone through it personally.

"We don't use the ISA on everyone. It is very selective and subjective.

"Of course, we have to consider racial sensitivities but the government should find other proactive solutions and deal with them openly."


Zaid added he welcomed the possibility of Abdullah and opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim sitting down and having a discussion on national issues.