KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 17 — There must be a proper balance between national security and human rights in Malaysia, Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein said today.

The Home Minister said this today at the Global Movement of Moderates conference, which was launched by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.

“We are a society in transition, as we go through change it is important for us to become a responsible government.

“As home minister I have managed...we have not seen blood on the streets, we have not seen riots go out of hand,” Hishammuddin said today during a dialogue session at the conference.

He was asked by social activist Datuk Paduka Marina Mahathir Mohamed to comment on why did a government which espoused “moderation” allow “racial supremacists” who are willing to not only target “the other” but also people within their own race who did not agree with their views.

Hishammuddin (picture) later told a news conference what was pivotal was the issue of safety, and the country’s “state of preparedness” for any situation.

“There has to be a balance of the new laws we are carrying forward.

“We need to balance between national interests, security and rights, and that takes time,” said Hishammuddin, adding that many Malaysians were “willing” to give the government the time need to make changes to improve the country.