Mon, 20th July 2009 - PUTRAJAYA: Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi revealed yesterday that he would have abolished the Internal Security Act (ISA) if he has had more time during his term as prime minister.

Lauding Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak's move to review the act, Abdullah hoped the government would be able to introduce a new preventive detention system, which placed a limit on the scope of arrest and one that pleased the rakyat.

"During my term, I had other things to focus on.

"There was not much pressure to abolish the system at that time but if I had continued my term up to the next general election, I would have eventually reviewed it (ISA) myself," he said after opening the Putrajaya Umno division delegates' meeting here yesterday.

Earlier, Abdullah urged Umno members to cease internal bickering in order to regain the people's trust.

"People don't want to see us fighting. They want to see us doing things to improve the country's situation.

"They want to see programmes that would boost the economy instead of reading about political squabbles."

He said Umno and Barisan Nasional would have to prove to the people that they practised democracy and catered to the people's wants and needs.

The former Umno president and Kepala Batas member of parliament said he was proud to be an Umno member and it was solely because of the party that he was able to contribute what he could to the nation.