‘HUNGER STRIKE TO CONTINUE IF GOVT FAILS TO ABOLISH ACT’
Detainees’ families urge govt to resolve issue in 3 months, says NGO
ANON-GOVERNMENTAL organisation said Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 (Sosma) detainees will continue their hunger strike if the government fails to address their plight within three months.
Small- and Medium-Scale Entrepreneurs Association of Malaysia (Ikhlas) president Datuk Mohd Ridzuan Abdullah said family members of Sosma detainees would gather outside Sungai Buloh Prison to urge the government to abolish the act.
“Gatherings will be held outside prisons across the nation and will be joined by family members of Sosma detainees.
“Prior to this, only hundreds came. We are expecting more people to join us.”
Ridzuan said Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Mohamed Hanipa Maidin must “make good” on the promise he made during his visit to Sungai Buloh Prison two days ago.
The deputy minister, who is in charge of legal affairs, was at the prison to persuade the Sosma detainees to end their hunger strike, which started on Friday.
Ridzuan said he was told by the detainees’ families that Hanipa had said the government was looking at addressing the matter within three months.
He said during the meeting, the d e t a i n e e s h a n d e d o v e r d o c uments to Hanipa, to be presented to the cabinet.
“We hope there is no need to go to that extent, but their families want a resolution.”
On Monday, the New Straits Times Press reported that the government was looking at repealing Sosma by setting up a special committee.
Deputy Home Minister Datuk Azis Jamman was quoted as saying that the committee comprised representatives from enforcement agencies, non-governmental organisations, the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia and the Attorney-General’s Chambers.