PARLIAMENT | Muhyiddin Yassin (PN-Pagoh) has defended his decision to allow the police to detain 12 individuals with alleged links with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in 2019.
However, when pressed by opposition MPs, he was unable to provide evidence that the 12 had links with LTTE - a group that was already defunct at the time but still considered a terrorist group by Malaysia.
Instead, Muhyiddin told the Dewan Rakyat that his decision as home minister at the material time was necessitated by Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 (Sosma), which the then Pakatan Harapan did not disturb.
"At the time, we were reviewing (the laws) but the cabinet did not make any decision... When I made the decision... it was based on (the results of) police investigations.
"I can't say if the (inspector-general of police) at the time was lying or not. I acted based on the law and (executed) my duties entrusted by the cabinet," he added.
Muhyiddin's revelation occurred during the debate on a motion to extend of the enforcement of Subsection 4(5) of Sosma for another five years beginning this July 31.
This law allowed the police to detain suspects for 28 days. Section 31 of the law allowed the home minister to make regulations for carrying out the law.
When it was Muhyiddin's turn to debate, RSN Rayer (Harapan-Jelutong) repeatedly asked for proof to show that those with alleged LTTE links were indeed involved with terrorist activities and thus justifying the application of Sosma.
Charges dropped
Among the 12 were two DAP politicians - G Saminathan, then the Gadek assemblyperson, and P Gunasekaran, who is now the Seremban Jaya assemblyperson.
The 12 were charged in court on Oct 12, 2019, for supporting LTTE. Charges were dropped in February 2020 by then attorney-general Tommy Thomas.
In Thomas' memoirs - "My Story: Justice in the Wilderness" - he wrote that Muhyiddin was unhappy the charges against the 12 were dropped and later lobbied then prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad to intervene.
"I was severely attacked by the right-wing forces (after my decision). The home minister was livid.
"I briefed the prime minister the day prior to the media release.
"Mahathir was satisfied with my explanation that since there was no realistic prospect of a conviction for any of the 12 accused, dropping the prosecution made sense. He was content to leave the legal decision to me," Thomas wrote. - Mkini
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