Rayer urges govt to stop enforcing Sosma, release detainees

 

RSN Rayer has urged the government to expedite engagement session on controversial Sosma law. (Bernama pic)

PETALING JAYA: RSN Rayer, the Jelutong MP, has called for the suspension of enforcement action under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act (Sosma) 2012 until an engagement session is held between the government and stakeholders.

He also called upon individuals detained under the law to be released immediately.

In a statement, the DAP MP said provisions under Section 13 of the law which limit bail to 18 year olds, women, elderly and ill individuals needed to be reviewed as the trial process for Sosma-related cases were time-consuming.

Rayer also said that Section 4(5) of the Act that allowed for a 28-day detention period without trial by a magistrate needed to be reviewed. Under Section 113 of the Criminal Procedural Code, a detainee needs to be presented before a magistrate for any detention lasting more than 24 hours.

He welcomed the engagement session to reform the law which was announced by deputy law and institutional reforms minister Ramkarpal Singh, and urged that the session commence immediately.

Last Friday, it was reported that home minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail and Ramkarpal had agreed to an engagement session pertaining to the controversial law.

Ramkarpal said among the matters that were discussed were the need to study Sosma further to address various aspects that had been criticised recently, including a provision that denied bail for certain detainees.

Saifuddin recently drew flak from several quarters after he said the law would not be reviewed for now. - FMT