125 detainees freed, 200 warrants cancelled

KUALA LUMPUR: Some 125 people detained under the Restricted Residences Act have been freed with immediate effect as the motion to repeal the law is tabled for second reading today.

The announcement was made by Prime Minister Najib Razak when he tabled the motion to scrap the law as part of his pledge to implement political reforms to improve civil liberties.

Najib also declared the cancellation of more than 200 warrants issued under the Restricted Residences Act (RRA) with immediate effect.

The premier said the repeal of the law which he described as “old” was in line with Putrajaya’s efforts to improve democratic practices according to “universal standards”.

“I stand here to fulfil my promise to introduce change,” Najib told the Dewan Rakyat.

Scrapping the RRA took into consideration the advancement of technology and capabilities of the Malaysian police to deal with crimes related to the law.

Najib had announced a slew of political reforms on the eve of Malaysia Day in what was seen as an election push and a desperate bid to recoup lost votes from the country’s vast chunk of fence-sitters.

Putrajaya’s image was severely damaged and its hold on middle Malaysia slipped following its aggressive response to the July 9 rally held by polls reform group Bersih 2.0

The proposed reforms included the abolition of the Internal Security Act and amendments to “political” laws like the Police Act to allow freedom of assembly other than street protests.

Pakatan criticised

While the opposition claimed credit to the reforms, Najib was quick to point out in his speech that Putrajaya’s move to repeal the laws was not influenced by “external nor internal” forces.

He chided the opposition as opportunists and ridiculed them for claiming that it was their pressure that forced Putrajaya to introduce the reform packages.

“They do not even have the mandate of the majority…we are the government and if there are any reforms, it will be us that implement them”.

While BN backbenchers praised the move, their Pakatan Rakyat counterparts in the policy stage debate claimed the repeal of the RRA was a political gimmick to fish votes.

Najib is expected to table the motion to repeal the Banishment Act later today.