Don’t backpedal on promises
LAWYERS for Liberty refers to Home Minister Muhyiddin Yassin’s statement on Sunday at the Bersatu annual general meeting that the Prevention of Crime Act 1959 (Poca), Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 (Sosma) and Prevention of Terrorism Act (Pota) 2015 will not be repealed but will be maintained with amendments. The Home Minister claimed that if the laws were abolished, some groups might take it as a sign that they are free to do as they please, “by becoming gangsters or terrorists....”
That excuse is without basis and sounds like the excuse given by the previous Barisan Nasional (BN) government and the police force for not doing anything and instead taking the easy way out by hanging on to these oppressive laws.
The government must not backpedal on its promise to rid Malaysia of the BN regime’s terrible legacy of oppressive laws. The Pakatan Harapan (PH) manifesto explicitly promised to repeal Poca, Sosma and Pota. It is unacceptable for the new government to breach these promises relating to fundamental liberties.
The Home Minister had in fact reiterated the PH promise to repeal and review all draconian laws at his first press conference as Home Minister on May 22, 2018.
Several leaders now in the PH government had fought against detention without trial while in the opposition. Their silence now is surprising and disturbing.
Lawyers for Liberty urges the government to go back to its manifesto that promised to enhance, equip and modernise the police force. This is what is required to effectively and efficiently tackle and prevent crimes, not oppressive laws that confer arbitrary powers to the police. Further, modernisation of law enforcement methods will also enhance the police’s reputation as well as prevent abuse and misconduct.
Lastly, we remind the new government that when it comes to abolishing or amending oppressive laws such as the Sedition Act, Communications and Multimedia Act 1998, Peaceful Assembly Act, Sosma, Poca, Pota, they have not honoured a single promise, except in the failed attempt to repeal the Anti-Fake News Act.