Hamzah points to organised crime in tabling Sosma clause extension

 

PARLIAMENT | Organised crime continued after Dewan Rakyat rejected the extension of the enforcement of Subsection 4(5) of the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 or Sosma.

Home Minister Hamzah Zainuddin (above) said this while tabling for committee stage the amendment of Sosma, which allows the 28-day detention period to be maintained for another five years beginning July 31.

"After the motion was voted down in Dewan Rakyat on March 23, incidents of organised crime continued to occur.

"For example, the shooting incident in Sungai Petani where the deceased was a person wanted by the police for being suspected of involving in organised crime and drugs.

“A man who was also a witness to a murder case was hacked to death in Klang.

"These are some of the examples of cases where criminals out there are still free and continue to commit crimes without fear," he said.

Sosma vs ISA

Hamzah said Sosma was unlike the now defunct Internal Security Act (ISA), as the detainees' rights to legal representation were not denied.

"We do not need to make a comparison between the ISA and Sosma. There are many differences between them. Sosma is an act that gives enough opportunities and rights to detainees from a legal point of view.

"But keep in mind that justice needs to be seen in a wider context and the security of the country and the people as a whole is something that needs to be prioritised.

"We cannot compromise with elements that threaten the national security," he stressed.

Hamzah said the police not only need 28 days to conclude an investigation, but they also need time to persuade terrified witnesses to give statements.

"In reality, the police have only 21 days to investigate and this follows seven days before the end of the 28-day period. The police must then submit the completed investigation paper to the Attorney General's Chambers (AGC) for further instructions,” he added.

On March 23, Dewan Rakyat voted down the motion to extend the enforcement period of Sosma for five years.

Last Wednesday, Dewan Rakyat approved a motion to quash the House's previous decision on March 23 which rejected the extension of the enforcement of Subsection 4(5) of Sosma. - Mkini