Najib assures no political motive in proposed POTA

KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak yesterday gave the assurance that there is no political motive in the proposed Prevention of Terrorism Act ( POTA).

He said the implementation of the new law would be administered by a competent body and not by members of the administration.

The objective was to prevent the proliferation of acts of terrorism to the extent of

Prevention is better than cure; that’s what the government subscribes to in checking the threat of terrorism.

threatening national security, he said at the launch of the 208th Police Day at the Police Training Centre ( Pulapol) here.

“Prevention is better than cure; that’s what the government subscribes to in checking the threat of terrorism.

“We have to act first to prevent terrorism because the consequences can be disastrous if we are late in doing so,” he said.

Najib said certain quarters were trying to belittle the implementation of the law by claiming that it was undemocratic and restricted freedom.

However, he said, there was no such thing as absolute freedom in a democratic country.

Every citizen was subject to the laws of the land to ensure that peace and security were maintained at all times, he said.

Najib said the implementation of the act was one of a series of measures adopted by the country to combat terrorists such as the IS members, including the tabling of the White Paper in Parliament last year.

He also said that, as such, the government intended to retain a nd improve the Sedition Act.

Najib said fighting terrorism was one of the four challenges of the police, besides the criticism in the social media touching on racial and religious sensitivities, intrusions into the country such as the case in Lahad Datu, Sabah, in 2014, and the task of reducing the crime index in the country.

“The police have a way of facing these challenges in a versatile and flexible manner,” he said.

Referring to the criticism in the social media, he said the police had to handle it in a way that it did not damage the racial and ethnic unity that had been nurtured in the country.

On the 208th Police Day, Najib said it reflected the appreciation of the government and the people for the contribution, sacrifice and commitment of the police force in maintaining peace and national sovereignty.

“Indeed, it is very difficult to repay the favour of the police who have greatly contributed to the security of the country in the face of various incidents since the period of the Emergency up to the invasion of Lahad Datu,” he said.

Najib drew an analogy to a table and chair for the four pillars of a nation, namely a strong economy; political stability; unity among the people; and peace and security.

“Of the four pillars, I give priority to peace and security,” he said.

The prime minister slammed certain quarters which criticised and looked down upon the police service and regarded the police as irresponsible.

“It is because of the police that we are able to live in peace and security in the country,” he said. — Bernama

Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, Prime Minister