KUALA LUMPUR, March 12 (Bernama) -- Two new laws to replace the Internal Security Act 1960 (ISA) which will be repealed, are still being drafted and currently with the Attorney-General's Chambers, Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein said today.

The home minister said the government was committed to replace the ISA but the bills needed to be carefully drafted before it could be brought to the Cabinet and later tabled in the Upper House.

"I have not seen the present draft (of the bills)," he said when asked to comment on the ISA replacement laws after the opening of the fifth session of the 12th Parliament by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Abdul Halim Mu'adzam Shah here.

Hishammuddin said the new laws would accentuate four key elements, namely detention period, treatment of detainees, detainees contact with their family, and an appeal process.

The government had earlier expected to table the two new laws to replace the ISA during the current Parliament sitting.

Tuanku Abdul Halim, in his royal address today, said the abolishment of legislation such as repeal of ISA were major steps that the government took towards strengthening civil liberties and implementing the political transformation of the nation.