KUALA LUMPUR: Home minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail has indicated that the government will not be reviewing the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 (Sosma).
When asked by reporters whether Sosma would be reviewed, he defended it by saying “the law allows the court process to take place”.
He said this was in contrast to the now-defunct Internal Security Act (ISA), which allowed for detention without trial, and the emergency ordinances (EO) which allowed for detention of up to 60 days.
“At the end of the 28 days, there will only be two recommendations for the detainee (under Sosma), which is either to charge them in court or to free them,” he said at a press conference in Bukit Aman.
“People like to compare Sosma with other preventative laws, even though Sosma is not a preventative provision.”
He stressed that people were detained under Sosma following reliable intelligence and evidence and it was for the sake of the country’s peace and security.
“The root of Sosma is to ensure public safety,” he said.
In July, the Dewan Rakyat passed a five-year extension to a provision in Sosma that allowed for a 28-day pre-trial detention.
Sub-section 4(5) of Sosma, which enables police to detain a person suspected of being involved in terrorist activities for a period not exceeding 28 days for investigations, was to have expired on July 31.
On Dec 7, more than 40 people from three families gathered at the Kajang prison to find out why their loved ones had been detained under Sosma for the past six months.
One of the family members, Abe Rameshwary, 42, said her husband and four cousins were detained by the police on June 23, but she claimed that the family was still in the dark as to why they were arrested.
Meanwhile, Tan Eng Huat said his brother had been detained under Sosma since June 23, but he had not received any explanation from the police or the home ministry. - FMT
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