Human rights group Suaram has welcomed Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s directive for a review and reassessment of the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 (Sosma), but cautioned that the long overdue amendments must not be delayed.
Suaram executive director Sevan Doraisamy in a statement reminded that comprehensive stakeholder engagements were already conducted in 2023 by former deputy minister in the Prime Minister’s Department in charge of law and institutional reforms, Ramkarpal Singh, with detailed recommendations submitted to the Home Ministry.
“What is needed now is not another round of reviews, but swift action to implement these amendments without further delay.
“Among the amendments that Suaram hopes to see is the abolition of Section 4(5) on the 28-day pre-charge detention without judicial oversight, as it contravenes the right to a fair trial and creates conditions ripe for torture and ill-treatment in custody,” said Sevan.
“We also call for the amendment to Section 13(1) that will grant all detainees the right to apply for bail, similar to provisions on bail in the Criminal Procedure Code - instead of the current provision that limits bail applications to only women, children, and the sick or infirm.
“Limiting the circumstances under which bail can be applied for goes against the presumption of innocence and inflicts severe socioeconomic harm on detainees’ families, often plunging them into financial distress and affecting the wellbeing and education of their children,” he stressed.
Sevan added that the Home Ministry must immediately set a clear timeline for tabling the Sosma amendments in Parliament and impose a moratorium on all ongoing and future Sosma cases until these critical reforms are implemented.
Yesterday, government spokesperson Fahmi Fadzil said the cabinet has agreed in principle that the law needs some improvement and that Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail will elaborate when he briefs Parliament next week.
On Thursday, a group of former Pakatan Harapan MPs urged the government to repeal Sosma, saying it is time to abolish the law.
Long-standing calls to abolish the security law were recently reignited following questions raised over the conditions of 32 Sosma detainees in Sungai Buloh Prison. - Mkini
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