The government should restore the Internal Security Act (ISA) to combat threats to national security, according to an academic.
Universiti Putra Malaysia's (UPM) Amimi Amir Abdullah said this is because there is a lack of fear for the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 (Sosma).
“We need to return ISA. Many of my friends were arrested under ISA and now they have become good people.
"People are not afraid of Sosma. In fact, they criticise it. Many in modern societies have poor manners..that's why we need ISA," said Amini, citing the example of a Universiti Malaya student Wong Yan Ke (photo) who protested during his convocation ceremony on Oct 14.
The civil engineering student carried a placard on stage demanding the resignation of UM vice-chancellor Abdul Rahim Hashim for involving the university in organising the Malay Dignity Congress.
Amini, an associate professor with the human ecology faculty was speaking at a discourse in UPM titled “Violence and national security: Are we ready?"
He said former premier Najib Abdul Razak's administration was too lenient and succumbed to pressure to repeal the ISA.
As for Sosma, he noted how those arrested were challenging their detention in court despite the law only providing for detention without trial for a period of 28 days.
Amini was referring to those detained under Sosma earlier this month for their alleged links with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). Among those arrested were two DAP state assemblypersons.
The ISA, which was enacted in 1960 to counter the communist insurgency, allowed for detention without trial for two years. This could be extended at the discretion of the home minister. Following a person's arrest, the police can hold a suspect incommunicado for 60 days.
However, the legislation gained notoriety due to it being used against political dissidents and activists.
Amending Sosma would render it toothless
Meanwhile, another panellist Shamrahayu Abd Aziz (photo) said following the repeal of ISA, Sosma is the best law the nation had in its arsenal to safeguard national security.
The International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) law professor disagreed with critics branding Sosma as draconian legislation.
"It is just a procedural law. What is wrong with it? Many people say Sosma is cruel... Please show how it is cruel.
"Under Sosma, police can detain (a person) without a warrant for 28 days but in 21 days, police have to prepare a file to be submitted to the deputy public prosecutor (DPP). The latter will then review the file before giving further instructions," she added.
She argued that under Sosma, police have more time to probe suspects and the suspects' next-of-kin had the right to know of their whereabouts.
"The suspect is given a right to notify the next-of-kin and engage a lawyer.
"Sosma is very good as the trial is then conducted in an open court where members of the public can witness the trial," she added.
Shamrahayu also cautioned that amending Sosma would render the preventive law toothless.
"If we want to amend it, we have to make sure that it is still effective. Otherwise, it will not serve its purpose and become cosmetic," she said. - Mkini
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