Flurry of Bills surprises MPs

Proposed amendments involve crime, security and increased penalties

MANY MPs were caught off guard when a flurry of Bills was tabled for first reading at the Dewan Rakyat.

Out of the 11 Bills tabled yesterday, at least eight of them dealt with crime, security and increased penalties for crimes committed.

Home Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi tabled the first Bill – the Prevention of Crime (Amendment and Extension) Bill 2013.

It was followed by Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Nancy Shukri, who tabled the Penal Code (Amendment) Bill 2013.

After all the Bills were tabled, the House continued with its business debating the Supplementary Supply Bill 2013, which was later passed.

Zahid denied that the amendments would be akin to the ISA, adding that they were not draconian but a form of transformation.

“Be patient. They can debate the issue professionally at the right place,” he added.

Kota Belud MP Datuk Abdul Rahman Dahlan of the Barisan Nasional said the Home Minister would have no power to order a detention without charge or trial.

He criticised the Opposition for trying to equate the amendments to the ISA, where detention without trial had been the prerogative of the Home Ministry.

Abdul Rahman said the amendments provided a check and balance as a board consisting of senior judges would decide whether a detention without trial would be granted.

“We are confident that the PCA will provide better preventive measures and give the police better tools to control crime. I hope the people will judge the law without bias,” he said.

DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng and national chairman Karpal Singh, however, said the amendments suggested a return to the ISA era, with Lim accusing Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak of breaking his promise of national reconciliation and giving the people “national retaliation” instead.

Lim also compared the PCA to the Emergency Ordinance, a law that was abolished along with the ISA in 2011.

Karpal accused the Cabinet of trying to bulldoze the tabling of the amendments.

Lembah Pantai MP Nurul Izzah Anwar of PKR claimed that Opposition MPs were only made aware of the amendments yesterday morning.

Klang MP Charles Santiago said the other Bills tabled yesterday, including the supplementary Bills, meant that MPs would have just two days for the crime-related Bills to be discussed and tabled.

“This does not make sense unless they bring it (PCA) to the next Parliament session so that it can be looked at thoroughly,” he said, pointing out that many MPs were unaware of the amendments until yesterday morning.