Senate approves extension of Sosma subsection for 28-day detention

 

A special sitting of the Dewan Negara today approved the motion for the extension of the enforcement of Subsection 4(5) of the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012, or Sosma, for another five years beginning Sunday (July 31).

The motion, tabled by Home Minister Hamzah Zainudin (above), was approved by a majority voice vote.

He said the extension of the enforcement of the subsection was necessary to deal with threats to the country’s sovereignty, security, and public order.

Sub-section 4(5) of Sosma, states that a police officer with the rank of superintendent or higher, may extend the period of detention for a period not exceeding 28 days, for the purpose of investigation.

Hamzah, in a winding up debate on the motion, denied that the extension of the subsection would allow oppression or cruelty against detainees.

He said the individual's basic rights, the right to see a lawyer and the right for the next-of-kin to be informed about the arrest, are already in the act.

"Section 5 of Sosma provides the suspect with the right to be informed of the reason for the arrest. In addition, the suspect is also given the right to be tried in court under Section 12 of Sosma," he said.

A total of 24 senators participated in the debate session in Parliament’s Upper House today.

Yesterday, the motion was passed by the Dewan Rakyat after bloc voting in which 111 MPs voted in support and 88 MPs against, while 21 MPs did not attend the voting.

- Bernama