Six laws to be amended or repealed

Muhyiddin: M’sia needs legislation that balances security and basic rights

PUTRAJAYA: The government is studying six laws with a view to either amending or repealing them, says Home Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.

The six laws are the Sedition Act 1948, Prevention of Crime Act (Poca) 1959, Prevention of Terrorism Act (Pota) 2015, Printing Presses and Publications Act 1984, Security Offences (Special Measures) Act (Sosma) 2012 and the Peaceful Assembly Act 2012.

He said the ministry and Attorney General’s Chambers would finetune the proposal to amend or repeal these laws and the outcome would be tabled to the Cabinet.

“The government has to formulate a law on security that can provide a balance on the need to safeguard the country’s security effectively, (and) at the same time preserve the fundamental rights as guaranteed in the Federal Constitution,” he said at the Home Ministry’s 2019 New Year Message programme here yesterday.

On Sosma, Muhyiddin said the status of the law was still being discussed with stakeholders, including the Bar Council.

“Just give it a bit of time. Wait a while, as we are in the midst of redrafting or amending the laws,” he said.

Muhyiddin also said the ministry’s key focus this year included revamping the Immigration operation system by implementing the end-to-end operation concept to avoid corruption and using artificial intelligence-based technology to enforce laws and eradicate crime.

Others, he said, included intensifying strategies on preventing and controlling radicalism, combating terrorism, eradicating human trafficking and smuggling of migrants, as well as cross-border crime.

He said in line with Pakatan Harapan’s manifesto, the ministry had awarded Malaysian citizenship to 1,641 people of Indian origin aged 60 and above who fulfilled the citizenship requirements.

Muhyiddin also handed over the Pingat Jasa Pahlawan Negara medal to 13 recipients for their heroism, sacrifices and deeds for the country during the Emergency Era (July 12, 1948 to July 21, 1960), Communist Insurgency Era (June 17, 1968 to Dec 2, 1989) and the Emergency period in Sabah and Sarawak (1962 until Oct 17, 1990).

Leading the list of recipients was Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Mohamad Fuzi Harun, followed by six former IGPs and four former deputy IGPs.

Muhyiddin also launched the development of the e-Pesara Polis DiRaja Malaysia, a new initiative by the police to safeguard the welfare of police pensioners.

He said the first phase of the web portal, scheduled to be ready in March, would benefit nearly 14,000 police pensioners.

Separately, Muhyiddin said he had made an appeal for Datuk Seri Alwi Ibrahim to be retained as the secretary-general of the ministry.

Alwi was reportedly appointed as the secretary-general of the Works Ministry under a reshuffle of senior government positions early this month. — Bernama