PCA allows majority to live in peace?

BN senators threw their support behind the Prevention of Crime Bill saying those against it are "using himan rights as an excuse".

KUALA LUMPUR: Pro-government senators here have slammed claims by certain quarters that the Prevention of Crime Bill (Amendment and Extension) 2013 sidelined human rights.

Their basis for criticing these groups is that the majority’s right to live in peace should also be defended.

Senator Abdul Rahim Abdul Rahman emphasised that this included the majority’s right to live without the threat of robberies, rape, murder, organised crime and shootings.

He said the Bill to amend the Prevention of Crime Act (PCA) 1959 was passed by Dewan Rakyat as it was needed to curb the rising trend of serious and organised crimes.

“This year alone there were 109 shooting incidents, still under police investigation, all of them involving secret societies. People have voiced their fear, so the government took the action of amending the Act.

“Certain quarters are against it using human rights as an excuse.

“But we forget that it is the basic right of every human being to live peacefully without the threat of crime. And what about the rights of the victims and their families,” he stressed while debating the Bill at the Dewan Negara here yesterday.

Expressing the same stance, Senator Chin Su Phin described security as a common issue regardless of political differences.
“We have our political differences but when it comes to combating crime let’s be united. Put aside politics for the sake of the nation and the people’s well-being,” he urged.

Senator Jamilah Sulaiman also supported the Bill saying it was the best mechanism to maintain security and public order.
The sitting resumes today.

-Bernama