A PKR lawmaker took Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi to task for describing human rights defenders as “wolves in sheep's clothing” for objecting to the Prevention of Crime Act 1959 (Poca).
N Surendran said while Zahid might disagree with the views of human rights advocates and defenders, there is no need for him to descend to name-calling and wild allegations.
“Zahid accused human rights defenders of being 'wolves in sheep's clothing' who are protecting criminals' in defending the recent amendments to the Poca passed by the Dewan Rakyat.
“This outburst is unjustified and unbecoming of a person holding the office of deputy prime minister,” he added in a statement.
The Padang Serai MP, who is a lawyer by profession, said the Bar Council, NGOs and other elected representatives had all raised valid criticisms against the Poca amendments.
“In criticising the amendments, we were defending the constitution, rule of law and the right of all Malaysians to be protected from unfair procedures and arbitrary arrest or detention.
“To say that we thus defended criminals is false and absurd, and merely demonstrates the weakness of Zahid's defence of the Poca,” he added.
He was responding to Zahid who this morning in a swipe aimed at the administration of former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad said the Poca is not as bad as the Internal Security Act (ISA).
Among others, Zahid, who is also home minister said he has limited powers under the Poca as some of the power was divested to the Prevention of Crime Board (POCB) - set up to protect the interests of those detained.
Commenting further, Surendran said the new amendments tabled in parliament last week have taken away the right of a detainee to challenge any finding of guilt made by the inquiry officer against the detainee.
“In fact, the detainee is deprived of the right to be even informed of the inquiry officer's decision.
“Based on the inquiry officer's report, the board is then authorised to make detention orders up to two years, without even hearing the detainee,” he added.
Surendran challenged Zahid to explain how the amendments could be considered lawful despite going against a detainee's constitutional right to be heard.
Zahid had tabled amendments to the Poca in 2013 and it was amended again in the Dewan Rakyat last week, in a move critics said would make the law even more draconian.
Among the revisions to the Poca are that detainees would no longer be brought to an inquiry officer after the remand process.
Instead, the police are supposed to submit an investigation report to the inquiry officer and the POCB, upon which the inquiry officer would start the inquiry process. - Mkini
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