Slow to repeal repressive laws

Govt taking its time to avoid flip-flops, says Home Ministry

MORE time is needed to repeal oppressive laws as the government wants to avoid flip-flops, said the Home Ministry.

Its deputy minister Datuk Mohd Azis Jamman said it was best to handle the issue in a comprehensive and thorough manner.

“It is okay if it takes time, as long as the decision is right and there is no flip-flop.

“We don’t want to have a situation of a law having been amended or repealed, and after a while find that it was a mistake.

“Which is why a thorough study will be done on the issue first,” he told Datuk Seri Dr Ronald Kiandee (PH-Beluran) who asked about the status of several laws such as the Prevention of Crime (Amendment) Act 2017 (Poca); Security, Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 (Sosma); and the Prevention of Terrorism Act (Pota).

Azis said the ministry had formed two special committees to look into six Acts that came under the purview of the ministry.

Apart from Sosma, Pota and Poca, he said the committees were also looking into the Sedition Act 1984, Printing Presses and Publications Act 1984 and Peaceful Assembly Act 2012.

Azis said the committees comprised bodies such as the Attorney General’s Chambers, Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) and Bar Council.

Through several series of meetings and workshops, committee members raised several issues and views such as on the detention period, police powers and judicial review.

“At this time, the Home Ministry is looking into all issues and views brought by both committees.

“The ministry will then present the recommendations to the Cabinet for a decision,” he added.

Earlier, Azis said fake news on social media was the reason for the recent scare about children being kidnapped for their organs.

“Many such cases are said to have occurred in our country, and this went viral on social media. But it was of video recordings and photographs which were not taken in Malaysia.

“However, many believed that it happened here,” he said in reply to V. Sivakumar (PH-Batu Gajah).

Azis said 33 child kidnappings were recorded in the country over the past 10 years.

“Of this, 27 cases were settled following the arrest of 90 individuals,” he added.