The cabinet had discussed the arrest of two DAP state assemblypersons for purported involvement with the Tamil Eelam Liberation Tigers (LTTE) terrorist group in a weekly meeting last Friday, said sources.
The ministers, in particular those from DAP, voiced their concerns that the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 was used to detain the leaders when Pakatan Harapan had pledged to abolish the Sosma Act, said a source.
"Yes, we discussed it and some ministers voiced their displeasure," said the source, who spoke on condition of anonymity.
Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Home Minister Muhyiddin Yassin both said to let the police probe the matter, said another source.
No decision was made during the meeting, which was held mainly to discuss Budget 2020 before it was presented in Parliament on the same day, according to the source.
"Both the Prime Minister and Home Minister just listened and said let the police conduct the investigation," said the source.
"Muhyiddin said he did not know about the arrests (of both lawmakers before it took place)," said another source.
The source said this showed police have the autonomy to conduct an investigation regarding the involvement with LTTE.
"We did not have much time to discuss the matter, so we will discuss it again (in the next cabinet meeting)," according to the source.
Besides discussing in the cabinet meeting, the source also confirmed the matter had been raised at the Pakatan Harapan informal discussion as claimed by Harapan secretariat chief Saifuddin Abdullah.
Saifuddin was reported as saying that the case was discussed informally yesterday, and for the time being, no decision had been made.
Last Thursday, the media reported that the Bukit Aman Special Branch Anti-Terrorism Division principal assistant director Ayub Khan Mydin Pitchay confirmed the detentions of the two elected representatives from Malacca and Negeri Sembilan.
Malacca State Executive Council Member G Saminathan and Seremban Jaya assemblyman P Gunasekaran were part of a group of seven individuals who were said to be involved with the LTTE group, which was set up to fight for the independence of the Tamil Eelam region in Sri Lanka.
Five more people were arrested over links to the LTTE yesterday, bringing the total number of arrests to 12.
Yesterday, Muhyiddin said the police had strong evidence to conduct the probe against LTTE based on intelligence carried out over a long period of time.
The police intelligence showed there is strong evidence of terrorism or the possibility of terrorism from the LTTE group in the country. - Mkini
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